The world is once again in the midst of war. This war must be stopped immediately.
It has been five days since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026. The conflict continues to escalate, affecting the entire world. President Donald Trump reportedly launched the attack without Congressional approval, without consulting the United Nations, and without the backing of traditional allies. Many nations have condemned the strikes.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the attacks “unjustifiable” and warned that global problems cannot be solved “with conflicts and bombs.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the escalation, stressing that the use of force undermines international peace and violates the UN Charter, which prohibits threats against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. He reiterated that there is no alternative to the peaceful settlement of disputes under international law.
The US-Israel strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with senior military officials. Much of the international community has denounced the killing of a head of state and other officials, calling it a grave violation of sovereignty and international norms.
Missile attacks also destroyed a girls’ primary school in Minab, killing around 150 and injuring many others. UNESCO expressed alarm, reminding the world that educational institutions are protected under international humanitarian law and that attacks on schools endanger children and undermine the right to education.
Are the bullies of this world listening? Whose war is this?
Millions have taken to the streets demanding an immediate end to the violence. Yet large sections of the media, often influenced by powerful interests, fail to fully report the widespread protests or the broader regional consequences, including retaliatory strikes. As always, the greatest victims of war are the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized, those who struggle daily to survive and who lose everything when bombs fall.
No one is winning this war. The world is simply becoming more insecure. International travel is disrupted. Economies are shaken. Fear spreads. The critical question remains: who decides when a nation has the right to attack another?
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established in 1957 after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was created to promote peaceful nuclear energy and prevent military misuse. Its mandate includes monitoring nuclear facilities and encouraging diplomatic solutions. Why, then, are international monitoring bodies ignored? After the world pledged “Never Again” following World War II and adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, can humanity afford another global catastrophe?
We must also examine the role of the arms industry. In 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned against the growing power of the “military-industrial complex.” He cautioned that corporate and military interests could distort national priorities. Today, that warning rings truer than ever. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) continues to show how military spending and arms profits soar during conflicts. War is a lucrative business.
Pope Francis spoke strongly against this “culture of death.” Addressing the US Congress in 2015, he asked why deadly weapons are sold to those who inflict suffering. His answer was stark: for money, “money drenched in blood.” He urged leaders to confront and stop the arms trade.
In his 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis devoted a section to “The Injustice of War.” He declared that war is a failure of politics and humanity, that its risks far outweigh any supposed benefits, and that we can no longer consider war a solution. “Never again war,” he insisted, calling for resources spent on weapons to be redirected toward ending hunger and promoting development.
Pope Leo XIV has echoed this call. In a recent Angelus message, he said peace is not achieved through threats or weapons, but through “reasonable and responsible dialogue.” Speaking to journalists, he urged: “Pray for peace, work for peace. Hatred in the world is constantly increasing.”
Mahatma Gandhi’s words remain prophetic: “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” In 1969, John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” became an anthem for anti-war movements. Its simple refrain captured a universal longing:
“All we are saying is give peace a chance.”
Today, that cry must become more than a song. It must be action.
In every war, it is the innocent who suffer most: children, families, the poor. Cities are reduced to rubble. Futures are erased. Hatred deepens. Violence begets violence. Humanity loses.
We cannot remain silent spectators while the world burns. Citizens must raise their voices. Leaders must be held accountable. International law must be respected. Dialogue must replace destruction.
This war must stop immediately.
Peace is not weakness. It is courage. It is justice. It is the only path forward.
Let us not wait until the devastation becomes irreversible. Let us act now to stop the war, IMMEDIATELY.
