Trump's threatened destruction of Iran's power plants could be considered a war crime, experts say

https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-power-plants-civilian-war-crimes-88b8ca1bc8e5cc8adabaf6c34e93e597

Trump’s threatened destruction of Iran’s power plants could be considered a war crime, experts say
By BEN FINLEY, LINDSAY WHITEHURST and GARY FIELDS
Updated 6:40 PM CDT, April 6, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — In his news conference Monday, President Donald Trump threatened to blow up every bridge and power plant in Iran, action that would be so far-reaching that some experts in military law said it could constitute a war crime.

A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday warned that attacking such infrastructure is banned under international law.

“Even if specific civilian infrastructure were to qualify as a military objective,” Stephane Dujarric said, an attack would still be prohibited if it risks “excessive incidental civilian harm.”

Rachel VanLandingham, a Southwestern Law School professor who served as a judge advocate general in the U.S. Air Force, said civilians are likely to die if power is cut to hospitals and water treatment plans.

“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,’” the retired lieutenant colonel said.

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