SerpApi.Org
President Trump on Wednesday threatened to authorize strikes against Iranian civilian infrastructure if the Islamic Republic continues to target vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
“From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The president’s maximalist rhetoric toward Tehran is not new, as he threatened to strike civilian infrastructure multiple times during the early months of the war. Trump warned Iran in April that a “whole civilization will die,” before backing off his threat to launch a wave of severe strikes.
International attacks on civilians and civilian objects that are not directly involved in hostilities are war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which the U.S. is not a party to. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also announced a diplomatic effort last week to “dismantle” the ICC.
Since July 6, Iranian forces have attacked at least a dozen ships in the strait, according to the International Maritime Organization.
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