Former Human Rights Watch chief Kenneth Roth has said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to attack Iran’s power plants and bridges would amount to a war crime if carried out. In an interview with the BBC, Roth stated that Trump was effectively threatening large-scale war crimes by targeting civilian infrastructure. He emphasized that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilian objects such as power stations and bridges.

Roth explained that even if such facilities have dual-use purposes, meaning they can serve both civilian and military functions, the law still forbids attacks that would cause disproportionate harm to civilians. He added that ignoring these principles would violate international norms that the U.S. government and the global community are expected to uphold.

In response, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz rejected Roth’s characterization, calling it false, baseless, and absurd. Waltz argued that such infrastructure could be considered legitimate military targets. Trump’s warning of possible strikes on Iran’s key infrastructure has sparked international debate.