Experts say Trump's threats to destroy Iran's infrastructure could be considered war crime

Key Points:

• President Trump issued explicit threats to bomb Iran's civilian infrastructure, including power plants, bridges, and desalination facilities, setting a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday night.
• International law experts and U.N. officials warn that attacks on civilian infrastructure are prohibited if they cause excessive civilian harm, and such actions could constitute war crimes; however, enforcement depends on sovereign nations' willingness to cede accountability.
• Trump dismissed concerns about committing war crimes, emphasizing his readiness to destroy Iranian infrastructure, while White House officials framed the threats as justified leverage against the Iranian regime's human rights abuses.
• U.S. lawmakers are divided, with some Republicans defending Trump's stance as legitimate military leverage and Democrats condemning it as a clear violation of international law.
• Legal scholars caution that even if such strikes are deemed lawful under the laws of armed conflict, they risk severe civilian suffering and could backfire politically by fueling anti-U.S. sentiment and prolonging conflict in the region.