UNCLASSIFIED
New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
195 Lambton Quay
22 July 2025
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
T +64 4 439 8000
F +64 4 472 9596
John Wilson
OIA 30223
[FYI request #31376 email]
Tēnā koe John Wilson
Thank you for your email of 24 June 2025 in which you request the following under the
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA):
Any internal MFAT analysis, reports, briefings, or memos concerning the legality
of recent US military strikes on Iran under international law.
Any correspondence between MFAT and other government agencies (e.g., DPMC,
Ministry of Defence) discussing the legal basis of these strikes.
Any legal advice MFAT received on this matter, including from external sources.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the Ministry) has identified five documents
that contain information in scope of your request. The relevant excerpts of the following
two documents are provided in
Annex one:
1. SITREP 4: ISRAEL/IRAN CONFLICT – MONDAY 23 JUNE [2025]
2. FORMAL MESSAGE: UNSC CONVENES THIRD EMERGENCY MEETING
FOLLOWING US STRIKES IN IRAN - CHINA, RUSSIA, PAKISTAN INTRODUCE
CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION” dated 23 June 2025
The remaining documents containing information in scope of your request are:
3. SITREP 3: ISRAEL/IRAN CONFLICT – SUNDAY 22 JUNE [2025];
4. Email from the Ministry to addressees including DPMC conveying initial legal
advice - 22 June 2025; and
5. Internal Ministry email that attaches initial legal advice - 23 June 2025.
The relevant parts of these three documents are withheld in full under the following
sections of the OIA:
•
6(a): to avoid prejudicing the security or defence of New Zealand or the
international relations of the New Zealand Government;
•
9(2)(g)(i): to protect the free and frank expression of opinions by departments;
•
9(2)(g)(ii): to protect officers and employees from improper pressure or
harassment; and
•
9(2)(h): to maintain legal professional privilege.
UNCLASSIFIED
Page 2 of 3
Where the information has been withheld under section 9 of the OIA, no public interest
in releasing the information has been identified that would override the reasons for
withholding it.
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official
information requests where possible. Therefore, our response to your request (with your
personal information removed) may be published on the Ministry website:
www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/contact-us/official-information-act-responses/ If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Corbett
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Page 3 of 3
Annex one
Excerpt of “SITREP 4: ISRAEL/IRAN CONFLICT – MONDAY 23 JUNE”.
The remainder of the document is removed as it is out of scope of request. UN SECURITY COUNCIL AND IAEA
• The US has told the UNSC it was acting in collective self-defence consistent with
the UN Charter. It also said it acted to protect both US citizens and allies.
Excerpt of “FORMAL MESSAGE: UNSC CONVENES THIRD EMERGENCY MEETING
FOLLOWING US STRIKES IN IRAN - CHINA, RUSSIA, PAKISTAN INTRODUCE
CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION” dated 23 June 2025.
The remainder of the document is removed as it is out of scope of request.
Summary – Rāpopoto
•
[out of scope] The US claimed an “inherent right of collective self-defence,
consistent with the UN charter” for the attack, and warned that any direct or
indirect Iranian response against the US or US bases would be met with
“devastating retaliation”.
[out of scope]
Report – Pūrongo
3. The US noted that the strikes aimed to eliminate Iran’s nuclear facilities and to
aid Israel in “our inherent right of collective self-defence, consistent with the UN
Charter”. The US noted that Iran had called for “death to America and to Israel”
for thirty years and had stonewalled the US and others’ good-faith diplomacy
efforts: yesterday, “the time finally came” to defend Israel and the US. The US
warned that Iran should not escalate in response, reiterating President Trump’s
messages that “any Iranian attack, direct or indirect, against Americans or
American bases, will be met with devastating retaliation”. The US concluded with
several asks of the UNSC, including assistance to end Iran’s 47-year-effort to
eradicate the State of Israel, to terminate its drive for nuclear weapons, and to
stop Iran targeting US citizens and interests.
[out of scope]
Document Outline
