US Efforts to Avoid War Crime Accusations in Attacks on Iran

Moscow (ANTARA) - The US government is attempting to avoid accusations of war crimes in its attacks on various Iranian infrastructure, Politico reported, citing two unnamed Pentagon officials. According to Politico, the Pentagon is currently reviewing a list of Iranian energy facilities, including some that supply both the military and civilians. A fierce debate is occurring at the Pentagon regarding the boundary between military and civilian targets, the report revealed. For example, some officials in Washington believe that water desalination plants can be considered targets because the military also requires drinking water, the report added. Earlier on Monday, UN Spokesperson Stephanie Dujarric stated that US attacks on civilian facilities in Iran, such as bridges and power plants, would violate international law. On 30 March, President Donald Trump said the United States would “blow up and completely obliterate” all Iranian power plants, oil wells, Kharg Island, and desalination plants if a peace agreement is not reached and the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. Meanwhile, on Sunday, he warned Iran about a “Power Plant Day and Bridge Day” on 7 April unless Iran reopens the Strait for traffic. The United States and Israel carried out military aggression by attacking several targets in Iran on 28 February, including Tehran City, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran then retaliated by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East.