Administration

Waltz says Trump’s threats against Iranian civilian infrastructure ‘perfectly acceptable’

Comments:

by Max Rego - 04/19/26 3:20 PM ET

Comments:

Link copied

by Max Rego - 04/19/26 3:20 PM ET

Comments:

Link copied

NOW PLAYING

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz on Sunday defended President Trump’s threats to strike Iranian civilian infrastructure.

Earlier Sunday, Trump said if Iran does not accept the “very fair and reasonable” peace deal his administration is proposing, then the U.S. military “is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single bridge” in the Middle Eastern country.

When host Jonathan Karl asked Waltz on ABC’s “This Week” whether such strikes would constitute war crimes, Waltz replied that they “would be an escalatory ladder.”

The ambassador also referenced World War II, when the U.S. and allies “bombed and took down bridges, other infrastructure, power plants” in Germany that “could be used for civilian [purposes] but also are used to manufacture drones and missiles.”

Under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), intentional strikes on civilians or civilian objects that are not engaged in hostilities are considered war crimes. But the U.S. is not party to the ICC, and the president imposed sanctions on the court last year after it issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“The ICC has no jurisdiction over the United States or Israel, as neither country is party to the Rome Statute or a member of the ICC,” Trump wrote in his executive order at the time. “Neither country has ever recognized the ICC’s jurisdiction, and both nations are thriving democracies with militaries that strictly adhere to the laws of war.”

Waltz on Sunday also accused the Islamic Republic regime and its terrorist proxies of “deliberately hiding military infrastructure in hospitals, schools, neighborhoods and other civilian assets.” As a result, they have “no ground to stand on, number one,” he said.

“Number two, they have a long history of commingling,” the ambassador added. “Number three, it’s perfectly acceptable in the rules of land warfare. Number four, the Iranian regime is launching drones and missiles directly into civilian homes, hotels and resorts across the Gulf.”

“So, this is just a ridiculous argument we’ve heard in the media and from the Iranians and frankly, from some lawmakers here at home,” Waltz concluded, referring to Democratic lawmakers who have criticized Trump’s threats to Iran.

Add as preferred source on Google