Foreign Minister Winston Peters has responded to critics of the Government's position on whether the United States and Israel have acted illegally by attacking Iran, saying the world is facing "new circumstances". 

He told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking this morning that “serious international legal experts” should decide whether their actions were legal - not people who were “not qualified”, including former PM Helen Clark, who has called New Zealand's response "a disgrace". 

“The rule of law on the streets of Auckland is the same as the rule of law internationally. To make it stand, somebody has to enforce it,” Peters said. 

“Some countries are kicking back and saying no, we are dealing with a bunch of religious fanatics and they cannot be trusted.” 

Peters denied he was backing America whether or not the country’s actions were legal. 

“[Iran] have been financing proxies all around the world, even as far as Australia, in major terrorist activities. They've been doing it for decades. 

"But all of a sudden now you've got a sort of a concertina of concern where some countries are saying enough, we are going to stop you right here, right now. 

“And then all of a sudden all those geostrategic experts in history and what have you in foreign affairs are saying, oh, we should have the rule of law,” he said. 

“Well, my point is you're not looking at the same circumstances now. It's not a matter of backing anybody or opposing anyone. We are facing new circumstances…and we have to look at them with new eyes.” 

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