Trump's Iran threats spark backlash, war crime warnings

Washington: US President Donald Trump's threat to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges unless Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz has ignited domestic backlash and legal alarms, as tensions surge over the vital oil chokepoint.

In a fiery Truth Social post first reported by Politico, Trump declared: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!” He set a Tuesday evening deadline, warning in a Wall Street Journal interview that Iran could lose “every power plant and every other plant they have in the whole country” if it doesn't comply.

The White House downplayed the rhetoric, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisting the US “will always act within the confines of the law,” per Politico.

Legal experts decried the threats as potential war crimes. The New York Times noted that power plants and bridges underpin civilian life in Iran, and targeting them without military justification violates international humanitarian law, which bans attacks on civilian objects unless military gains clearly outweigh civilian harm. A Washington Post source called it “a threat to attack all bridges or power plants or to attack them without distinguishing between lawful and unlawful targets would be a threat to commit war crimes” by failing to distinguish lawful targets.

Bipartisan lawmakers piled on. Democrat Senator Chris Murphy labeled the remarks “completely, utterly unhinged.” Republican Representative Don Bacon criticized the profanity, saying leadership demands “self-control.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused the administration of a “reckless war of choice without any plan.” Republican Representative Mike Lawler countered by praising the military operation as “incredible.”

Iran dug in, with a senior official telling CNN the strait stays blocked until Tehran receives “pay for war damages.”

US allies expressed alarm at the whiplash, per the Washington Post, amid ongoing diplomacy. Analysts warn the mix of bluster and pressure risks eroding global norms and sparking wider escalation. The Pentagon deferred to US Central Command, confirming no strike plans.

Trump defended his approach on Fox News: “We have it under control, seriously under control,” while hinting at possible talks.

The Strait of Hormuz carries one-fifth of global oil, threatening energy markets and trade if disrupted. This standoff ranks among the tensest US-Iran flashpoints in years.

(Inputs from IANS)