The tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran are rising. No side appears to be willing to de-escalate. Yet, President Donald Trump threatened to intensify the war by striking at an Iranian power plant.
“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Trump said on Truth Social.
Needless to say, anything is possible with Trump. Unlike presidents before him, Trump may push through an idea—even if it is outside of international customs and norms. But threatening to bomb what is considered civilian infrastructure under international law? This is, nonetheless, a disturbing statement from a sitting United States president.
Sen. Chris Murphy commented on Trump’s statement, “He’s lost control of the war, and he is panicking.”
Murphy criticized the Trump administration’s lack of a war plan against Iran. The senator from Connecticut claimed that the administration kept moving the goalposts in the war. Moreover, he made the damning allegation that the administration had no cohesive plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The body of water has been under the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) control. Since then, fuel prices have been skyrocketing worldwide. Iran has successfully utilized the strait to disrupt the distribution of oil.
Rep. Yassamin Ansari from Arizona wrote on X, “From “help is on the way” for Iranian protestors to threatening war crimes against an entire population. The United States is being run by a maniacal tyrant hell bent on destroying this country and the world along with it.”
‘Liberty’ through bombs
Earlier in the war, the Trump administration had repeatedly claimed that they wanted to liberate the civilian population of Iran. Prior to US attacks, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the IRGC had been cracking down on civilian protestors. But even with the senior Khamenei dead, his son, Mojtaba Khamenei would succeed him. Although the US government and media sources note that the younger Khamenei is yet to make an appearance, it’s evident that the Iranian people are far from being ‘liberated.’
Instead, the South Pars gas field had been struck by Israel, environmentally devastating black rain spilled across Tehran, and more than 1,400 civilians had been killed. This is far from the gleaming picture of ‘liberty’ promised by the Trump administration. After all, freedom and peace are hardly a guarantee when they come with bombs.
Civilians are undeniably left in the crossfire as the war escalates, with their homes and schools swept up in the tragedy. Earlier in the war, a girls’ school in Iran’s Minab region was targeted. The alleged US strike resulted in 168 deaths—most of whom were children. There are calls for investigation, but the bomb that dropped on the school appears to be a tomahawk missile. But now, Trump is blatantly threatening to bomb yet another civilian infrastructure—a power plant. Although not specified in Trump’s social media post, it’s possible he was referring to the Damavand Combined Cycle Power Plant, located in Tehran.
The power plant is described as a critical energy hub. Should Trump authorize the strike, the consequences will be devastating. The effects won’t be felt just by the militia but, most especially, by the civilians.
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