Iran War: Threats to attack civilian targets are raising concerns with legal experts

This episode of Consider This from NPR examines escalating concerns over U.S. military threats to target civilian infrastructure in Iran, including power plants and desalination facilities, during Operation Epic Fury. Legal expert Gabor Rona, director of the Law and Armed Conflict Project at Cardozo Law School, argues that such actions would constitute war crimes under both international and U.S. law, regardless of whether they are intentional or accidental. He emphasizes that no nation, not even the most powerful, is above accountability, drawing parallels to post-World War II tribunals at Nuremberg and Tokyo. Despite White House assurances that U.S. forces act within legal bounds, Rona warns that deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure could trigger international backlash, with countries like Spain and Italy already refusing U.S. flyovers in protest. He predicts future accountability, possibly through domestic or international prosecutions, even if not during the current administration. The episode underscores the tension between military strategy and legal ethics in modern warfare. The discussion also critiques the rhetoric of U.S. officials like Stephen Miller and President Trump, who frame global power as governed solely by strength and force. Rona counters that such views ignore the decades-long legal framework established after WWII to prevent war crimes. The episode concludes with a call for moral responsibility, warning that the U.S. risks undermining its own credibility and long-term global standing if it acts without regard for international law. The broader takeaway is that power without accountability leads to long-term consequences, both legally and diplomatically.