President Donald Trump said Monday he is "not at all" concerned about committing war crimes if he follows through on threats to bomb Iranian bridges and power plants, as his Tuesday evening deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approaches.
Trump's sweeping threats to destroy civilian infrastructure have drawn sharp criticism from legal experts, UN officials, and congressional Democrats who argue such attacks would violate international humanitarian law. The president has warned Iran will have "no bridges" and "no power plants" if it fails to meet his ultimatum.
What Trump is saying is, 'We don't care about precision, we don't care about impact on civilians, we're just going to take out all of Iranian power generating capacity'
Rachel VanLandingham, Southwestern Law School professor — France 24
The latest deadline represents the culmination of weeks of escalating threats and shifting timelines. Trump initially set a March 23 deadline, then extended it multiple times as negotiations appeared to show promise before ultimately stalling.
International law experts warn that targeting power plants and bridges could constitute war crimes if the attacks are disproportionate or fail to minimize civilian casualties. Hospitals, water treatment facilities, and other essential services depend on electrical infrastructure, making power plants particularly sensitive targets under the laws of war.
France 24 emphasizes the legal and humanitarian concerns around Trump's threats, prominently featuring expert analysis that frames the proposed attacks as potential war crimes. The outlet's coverage reflects European skepticism toward unilateral American military action and concern for international legal norms.