Why did President Trump's policy of "maximum pressure" on Iran result in "maximum resistance"?
War on Iran: Power and the Limits of International Law answers this central question by tracing the origins of the 2026 Iran-Israel-United States conflict through more than seventy years of history. Beginning with the nationalization of Iranian oil and the overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953, it explains how sovereignty, energy security, and sanctions combined to reshape the regional balance of power in the Middle East. Drawing on the United Nations Charter and Security Council resolutions, the book shows how Iran adapted to decades of economic isolation through regional partnerships, its network of regional proxy groups, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, and closer strategic cooperation with China and Russia. Rather than forcing strategic retreat, sustained pressure encouraged Tehran to build new forms of resilience beyond the Western-led international order. The book also examines the changing role of the UN Security Council, the growing influence of China and Russia, the power of the veto, and the emergence of an increasingly multipolar international order. It demonstrates that the main question is no longer simply how to contain Iran, but whether international law can remain effective in a world where power itself is changing. Understanding the United Nations - Quick Insight is a series of concise, accessible books explaining the institutions, legal principles, and political realities that shape the work of the United Nations in an increasingly complex world. Each volume explores a major theme from international law and human rights to diplomacy, peacekeeping, sanctions, genocide, armed conflict, and the United Nations Security Council. Written for general readers interested in current affairs as well as students of International Relations, each book is designed to be read as a standalone guide while forming part of a broader series.