U.S. experts say American strikes on Iran may amount to war crimes

Lead

More than 100 US-based international law experts have signed an open letter warning that American and Israeli military strikes on Iran may amount to war crimes and violate the UN Charter, according to multiple reports. The letter, released on Thursday, says the conduct of US forces and statements by senior US officials "raise serious concerns about violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes," as reported by Al Jazeera, BBC, and others.

The experts, from universities including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and the University of California, voiced alarm over strikes that have hit schools, health facilities, and homes, as well as threats by President Donald Trump to target Iran's power and desalination plants, according to The Guardian and Jerusalem Post.

Coverage comparison

Coverage of the open letter was widespread, with reports appearing in Al Jazeera, BBC News, The Guardian (in two articles), The Hindu, and the Jerusalem Post. Al Jazeera and BBC emphasized the breach of the UN Charter, while The Guardian focused on Trump's threats to civilian infrastructure and the UK's legal position regarding the use of its bases. The Jerusalem Post and The Hindu highlighted the school strike and the escalation of Trump's rhetoric.

The White House dismissed the experts' concerns, saying that Trump is making the region safer, according to BBC. The UK government has defended its position, saying it is acting in collective self-defense of regional allies, but experts quoted by The Guardian question the feasibility of distinguishing defensive and offensive operations.

Key claims

Open letter by international law experts: More than 100 US-based experts signed the letter, as reported by multiple outlets including Al Jazeera, BBC, and The Guardian. They say the US-Israeli campaign was launched without UN Security Council authorization and without credible evidence of an imminent Iranian threat, a claim carried by Al Jazeera and BBC. The letter, published on the website of the Just Security policy journal, was released on Thursday, per Jerusalem Post.

Threats to civilian infrastructure: Trump, in a televised speech on Wednesday, threatened to strike Iran's electric-generating plants and "bring them back to the Stone Ages," as quoted by The Hindu and The Guardian. The experts argue such attacks on civilian infrastructure could constitute war crimes under international law, citing Amnesty International's senior director's statement that intentional attacks on power plants are generally prohibited, reported by The Guardian.

School strike: A strike on a school in Minab, Iran, on the first day of the war killed at least 175 people, most of them children, according to the Iranian Red Crescent, as reported by Jerusalem Post and The Hindu. The US military elevated its investigation into the strike after media reports revealed US forces were likely responsible, per Jerusalem Post and The Hindu. BBC reported a slightly different death toll of at least 168, noting the figure from the BBC report, but the discrepancy may reflect different timeframes or sources.

Officials' rhetoric: The letter cited Trump's mid-March comment that the US may conduct strikes on Iran "just for fun" and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth's statement that the US does not fight with "stupid rules of engagement," as reported by Jerusalem Post and The Hindu. BBC also noted Hegseth's remark that "no quarter" should be given to enemies, which is prohibited under international law.

Perspectives

The open letter represents a significant legal and academic challenge to the Trump administration's conduct of the war. Human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have echoed the experts' concerns about attacks on civilian infrastructure, as reported by The Guardian.

The White House has rejected the criticism, dismissing the signatories as "so-called experts" and asserting that Trump's actions are making the region safer, according to BBC.

The UK's position has also come under scrutiny. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has authorized the use of UK bases for "defensive" strikes only, but experts quoted by The Guardian argue that the line between defensive and offensive operations is legally implausible, especially as Trump escalates threats against civilian targets.

Temporal context

The war began on February 28. The strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab occurred that day, and the US military's investigation was elevated in March, after media reports revealed US responsibility. As of April 3, the conflict is in its sixth week, with Trump threatening further escalation, according to Jerusalem Post.

As the conflict continues, international legal scrutiny is likely to intensify, particularly if US strikes target civilian infrastructure. The open letter's call for accountability may press the administration to clarify its rules of engagement.