UN warns Trump’s Iran threats could violate international law
UN Secretary-General António Guterres (Photo: Getty Images)
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is alarmed by US President Donald Trump's threats to attack civilian infrastructure in Iran, states Guterres' spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
According to Dujarric, Trump risks violating international law if he carries out his threats. Dujarric emphasized that even if the US has a military objective in striking non-military targets, the risk of harm to the civilian population could render those strikes illegal.
"We were alarmed by the rhetoric seen in that social media post that threatened American attacks on power plants, bridges, and other infrastructure, should Iran not agree to a deal," said the UN Secretary-General's spokesperson, commenting on Trump's post that contained profanity.
Dujarric added that Guterres has asked the US and Iran to abide by international law and to leave civilian infrastructure alone.
During the war that began on February 28, Iran has struck civilian targets in Israel and several Gulf countries. Guterres, for his part, has tried to refrain from directly criticizing the US or other member states. At the same time, he has called on the US and Israel to end the conflict, and on Iran to stop attacking its neighbors.
Specifically, last week, the UN Secretary-General called for freedom of navigation and the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including nuclear facilities, as the region is on the brink of a wider war.
Threat of bombing Iran
In recent days, US President Donald Trump issued another ultimatum to Iran. He gave the country 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz. The deadline expires on Tuesday at 8:00 PM Washington time. America will begin destroying bridges and power plants across Iran. Moreover, on Monday, the president again threatened a hellish night.
Also on April 6, Trump commented on the possibility that potential strikes on Iran's critical infrastructure could be considered war crimes. When asked by reporters, he said he did not care, adding that allowing Iran to have nuclear weapons would be a war crime.
Incidentally, according to CNN, Trump rejected a proposal to establish a 45-day ceasefire with Iran — an initiative prepared by Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye.
