The threat, if carried out, would “likely constitute war crimes”, says Grok.
Trump’s Threat
Truth Social: 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! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP
War Crime Discussion
Mish to Grok: If Trump did what he said, would that constitute a war crime?
Grok Response:
If President Trump carried out the threatened action—destroying (“obliterating”) Iran’s various power plants, starting with the biggest one—it would likely constitute war crimes under international humanitarian law (IHL), depending on the specifics of execution, but the blanket, widespread nature implied makes it highly probable.International law does not categorically prohibit attacking power plants or electrical infrastructure.
However, attacks must comply with core principles from the Geneva Conventions (especially Additional Protocol I), customary IHL, and the Rome Statute of the ICC (which defines war crimes even if the U.S. is not a party—the norms are widely accepted as customary).
If the Threat Were Carried Out, attacking power plants could potentially raise serious IHL issues, depending on circumstances:
- Civilian objects like power stations are generally protected from attack unless they are making an effective contribution to military action (e.g., powering military command centers, air defenses, weapons production, or nuclear facilities tied to military use).
- Even if partly military, an attack must satisfy the principles of:
- Distinction (targeting only military objectives).
- Proportionality (expected civilian harm not excessive compared to military advantage).
- Precautions in planning/execution to minimize civilian risk.
- Widespread, long-term, and severe damage to the civilian population’s access to electricity (potentially causing indirect civilian deaths via lack of medical care, water pumping, sanitation, etc.) could violate prohibitions on indiscriminate attacks or attacks expected to cause excessive incidental civilian harm.
- If the attack targeted a nuclear power plant (e.g., Bushehr), it could risk radioactive release, raising additional concerns under environmental protection rules in war and potentially amounting to an ecocide-like offense or disproportionate harm.
- The post specifies “power plants,” not explicitly nuclear ones or purely civilian targets.
- Context from surrounding events (ongoing U.S./allied military actions against Iranian military capabilities, missile sites, navy/air force, etc.) suggests the intent is tied to degrading Iran’s military threat and reopening a key international waterway (Strait of Hormuz), which Iran has been interfering with.
In short: The post is a threat, not a crime. Whether any future action would be a war crime would depend on how (if) it is executed, the precise targets, intelligence about their use, proportionality assessments, and civilian impact—none of which can be judged from a social media statement alone. International bodies like the ICC or UN would only investigate actual conduct in an armed conflict, not rhetoric. States (including the U.S.) often reject ICC jurisdiction anyway.
How Would Iran Respond?
The Wall Street Journal reports Iran Threatens Reprisals on Critical Infrastructure if U.S. Strikes Power Plants
Iran’s military threatened to attack energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure in response to President Trump’s warning that the U.S. would hit Iranian power plants unless the Strait of Hormuz was opened within 48 hours. Iranian state media cited a spokesman for Iran’s military joint command as saying targets across the region could be hit.
While oil-and-gas reserves support economies around the region, desalination plants are relied upon by millions in the Middle East for drinking water. The Middle East has more than 40% of the world’s desalination capacity, or around 5,000 plants. Iran has previously targeted desalination capacity, including a drone attack that damaged a plant in Bahrain earlier this month.
Here’s what else to know:
Iran’s use of intermediate-range ballistic missiles demonstrated its arsenal can now reach Europe.
Iran said its Natanz nuclear facility was attacked for the second time in the current war.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran would respond in kind to any attack on its critical infrastructure.
Gharibabadi’s post on X followed President Trump’s warning that it would strike power plants if Iran doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz so critical fuel and fertilizer shipments could restart.
Gharibabadi also said the threats on infrastructure raise legal concerns under international law. “An explicit threat to target power plants and vital infrastructure goes beyond a mere political statement; under international law, it concerns civilian objects,” he wrote, citing principles of international humanitarian law, which he said prohibit deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Given what has transpired so far with Iranian responses, there is a reasonable chance Iran would launch attacks on Europe.
It’s a given that Iran would respond in kind on Mideast facilities.
Is Europe in Play?
Mish to Grok: Has Iran threatened to hit Europe if trump does this?
Grok: No. There is no evidence that Iran has threatened to hit or attack Europe in response to Trump’s ultimatum.
Iran’s responses, as reported across major outlets (BBC, NYT, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Guardian, CNN, AP, etc.), focus on regional retaliation in the Middle East:
- Threatening to completely close the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely if the U.S. strikes power plants.
- Warning of irreversible destruction of energy, oil, IT, desalination, and other critical infrastructure across the region (e.g., Gulf states, sites used by the U.S., Israel, and allies).
- Targeting desalination plants (vital for water in water-scarce Gulf countries), fuel facilities, and power plants in areas hosting U.S. bases or allied interests.
Question of the Year
Q: Is Trump willing to risk this?
A: We are going to find out. I doubt Iran opens the strait. That’s the only bargaining power Iran has.
Would it be wise for Iran to threaten Europe? Allies would immediately voice concerns to Trump, if they have not done so already.
Then again, Iran will not want to provoke Europe into joining Trump.
Regardless, so much for Trump’s lie about “winding down operations“.
Related Posts
March 21, 2026: Investigating the Claim: Iran Close to Oil for a Fee Agreement with Japan
This is a huge deal, if it’s true.
March 21, 2026: Iran Wants a Steep Price to End the War, Believes It’s Winning
Trump says he won. Iran says its winning. Can both be right?
Winding Down?!
March 21, 2026: Trump Considers Winding Down’ Iran Operations. Great, But What Does that Mean?
Let’s discuss three possibilities.
Addendum – Reader Observation
Why are we threatening to attack Iran’s power plants? To open the Strait of Hormuz.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz closed? Because we attacked Iran.
Do the JIDF shills think that “Iran would already have used the bomb by now” makes sense in a war ISRAEL STARTED?
Iran is experiencing hyper inflation. They just released a 10 million dollar note (after releasing a 5 million dollar note in February). The note is worth roughly 7 US dollars.
Mish you should do a post on hyper inflation in Iran because its happening and citizens struggling to withdraw money. Since hyper inflation is a political event is means that a regime change is very likely and coming from within (citizens rioting due to no food, power, worthless money).
Internet access is virtually non existent in Iran (only via black market).
None of that’s happening here. Doesn’t seem like that would be happening if you were winning the war.
Wow, that’s a lot of dollars! Imagine how much that would be for the Iranians if, say, the Americans unsanctioned 140 million barrels of Iranian oil currently at sea.
Prices are up 30% since Trump became president, so your claims about our inflation might be a bit premature.
The Donald keeps saying the War is over and I really wish I could believe him– but?
Anybody want to buy my nice motorhome which has long range 200 gallon tanks? It’s supposedly good on gas and we will sorely miss it but as of now we just happen to be downsizing. Willing to take a Chinese built electric BYD vehicle as a straight trade.
So now we are asking the chat bots what’s lawful and what’s not 🙂 Iran attacking neighboring countries infrastructure – commercial and residential buildings, commercial ships, refineries, water plants etc is not a big problem but if US attacks power plants that’s automatically a war crime? What if that power plants supplies energy to a missiles building factory – those factories must use electricity from somewhere, right? US is not even a part in most of those treaties so it is not bound by them. Unbelievable!
“The US us not bound by the laws of war that they wrote” says the retard who just joked about asking chat bots basic questions.
Trump needs to be impeached, as does the Sr. Senator from Tel Aviv, Lindsey Graham.
If the world will not yield to my righteous demands, I will destroy the world. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
The only way forward is to keep pounding Iran, but not necessarily the power grid. Letting Iran/its current government survive will only enbolden them and thats trouble big time. In the mean time flood the country with covert Mosad and CIA and pledge to begin an uber Marshall Plan to rebuild and distribute income much more equitably with a new regime. It worked after WW II and is the only sane and humane way to proceed in Iran. Make an ally out of a defeated enemy.
In this case the only way forward for Iran is to pound heavily the Gulf states and Israel. Anyway pounding Iran may be a little bit difficult now. It seems that the S400 have appeared
Appeared and disappeared in a flash of light.
Typical thinking of a citizen born into the height of an empire. You simply cannot realize, nor ever admit that this is a no-win scenario which is also typical of a dying empire.
“Keeping on pounding Iran” will never win an asymmetric war against a foe that now appears to be the Jedi master of asymmetric warfare.
We need to change our foreign policy such that it is actually fair and balanced and not so grotesquely butt licking to Israel.
and by the way The U.S. Ammo Shortage Is Worse Than You Think
https://archive.ph/20260322131953/https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-u-s-ammo-shortage-is-worse-than-you-think-97096193#selection-557.0-557.46
Is this where this is heading? We’re going to invade this island/ Iran and then we’re going to set up some sort of Iraqi style green zone with McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A’s and simply just sit in big chairs and run the toll booth at the strait?? I partly jest but still ask: Whats the plan??
At this point this Administration and the military have committed so many war crimes in deed and in word (self-incrimination) that a few more won’t matter.
Prosecution would be more clear cut than the Nazi officials hung at Nuremberg.
The Iranians had earlier threatened to “do” on of the carriers (5000 men) if Usrael were to attack the power grid. US precedent is to always attack the power grid, sewer and water services.
Grok said it depends and it does depend on not what Trump said but what strikes are made. Dual-use installations are fair targets even in todays very restrained Rules of Engagement.
‘Mish to Grok: Has Iran threatened to hit Europe if trump does this?
Grok: No. There is no evidence that Iran has threatened to hit or attack Europe in response to Trump’s ultimatum.’
The missile with a range of 4,000 km is enough to reach 3/4 of Europe. Iran sent the message by showing they have it and the message was well received but Europe’s response was that negotiations with Iran are useless because that had promised them that their missiles only had a range of under 2,000 km so they shouldn’t feel threatened. They know Iran lied and now they do feel threatened. If negotiation is no longer possible then draw your own conclusion.
Wait, hold on….did he say “4 days” or “4 weeks” ???
if Iran were to get the bomb, we can all agree terrible things would happen.
Who is willing to pay the price to keep that from happening?
Who is “we”? Hell, Iran could make a dirty bomb today.
Yes they can that’s why we need that 460 km of enriched uranium turned over.
If Iran had had the bomb, Epic Fuckup would not have been started. The one thing this war has made certain is that Iran will develop nuclear weapons. Whether that’s in weeks or 20 years, they will get nukes.
The only protection from the treacherous Americans and Israelis.
The difference between Iran and the rest of the world with nukes is that the leadership of Iran will immediately use those nukes.
If you do not believe that then you have a poor understanding of just how much Islam affects the thinking of Irans leaders.
We wouldn’t use the bomb on our neighbors, neither would China Russia, Pakistan, India England France. But Iran would, and they do not care about what happens, only that Israel dies, and every citizen in Israel dies.
Iran is different than anyone else.
What are you – a Hugh Hewitt listener? There’s only one country that has ever used atomic weapons, and you’re in it.
Nobody launches a war of choice against North Korea.
That is why all this is happening. The only ones who trust Iran with the bomb can only be found in blogs like this one and hardly anywhere else.
Most Americans can’t find Iran on a map. They have far less understanding of the mindset of Iran’s leadership and how they would use the nuke.
Iran is different…they get nukes, they will use them, not hold onto them.
Anyone who says differently doesn’t know Iran.
They are the ones who don’t care until they have to. It’s not passivism nor is it love for Iran’s mullahs. They just want to be left alone but the world sometimes comes barging in and dumps on your couch. Then they pay attention.
This is the language of a war criminal.
This is the language of a man who will use Nukes as a matter of choice in a war of aggression.
Trumpo tore up Obama’s “no nukes” agreement with Iran. He then started this war from fear (no proof) of Iranian nukes.
Trump creates the problem; uses the media to mobilize fear; starts a pre-emptive war to “obliterate” the fear he created; causes many to die; escalates and creates more problems; and amplifies the heightened fears further in a doom loop. GW Bush exploited 9-11 in the same way to start his war in Iraq, which also was supported by Netanyahu and AIPAC.
This has to be a war crime. Indeed, the first Article of indictment in the Nuremburg trials was that Hitler committed aggression and started the war.
And where are Schumer and the Democrats? Supporting Israel to the hilt and giving Trump cover.
This ends only one way, as I see it, unless Russia or China get involved. Israel’s nuclear capabilities are fully explained by MIT’s Theodore Postol (see: https://youtu.be/UVydGDvszeo ).
Sadly, the “America First” extreme right is pointing to “Jews” as the root problem. Antisemitism is growing in the U.S. and Europe. The problem is Zionism and its bedfellows including Christian Nationalism and the neocons, not Jews or Judaism.
Bottom line: When Israel and Iran see themselves in an existential trap, escalation is very hard to stop. This could lead to “Total War.” Its implications must be considered seriously NOW, and the doom loop stopped.
Under Obama’s treaty Iran would have had the bomb by now. He only kicked the can down the road in order to get reelected.
Agreed, particularly with the distinction between Judaism and Zionism… two different things. Nothing about Israel’s most common religion excuses their immoral behavior, genocide, war crimes, etc, but neither does Israel act for all Jews- not even all Israeli Jews. Many American Jews are horrified by Israel’s actions. Zionism and Judaism are distinct ideas.
Scathing article here. Provides the overall picture.
Non cancer-related, Ty & Charlene Bollinger are simply furious, that’s all.
“The Great Betrayal: How Trump Sold Out “America First” and “No New Wars”The Truth About Cancer, Mar 22, 2026”
https://thetruthaboutcancerofficial.substack.com/p/the-great-betrayal-how-trump-sold
You sound like the lefties in North Jersey New York area in the late 1930s you’re in this conflict no matter what you do depends on where you wanna be you wanna be attacked like in Pearl Harbor or do you wanna maybe try to stop it this terrible hatred, you believe my religion or you’re dead women back in the stone ages forget about homosexuals you’re hung up in front of everybody. This is a little sidenote, but the state of New Jersey blew up a bunch of our power plants maybe they should be subjected to some kind of crime against society oh, by the way locally there was a major fire in one of our buildings in South Jersey. It happened to be a solar panel that caught on fire thank you greenies why don’t we let true people true scientist run, except for your green ideas which to me should be grumbled, crumbled back into the Earth, Mishtalk thank you i’m just a US citizen, expressing my feelings, liberty and prosperity freedom to express our feelings and the constant negative anti- US talk it’s not good for anyone! by the way, I like the Three Stooges I like to have a ridicule Hitler I think your theory about the Soviet Union in this reaction is wrong and take it from there. I’m just one man’s opinion now Mish i’m gonna go be a capitalist now and try to make some money adios amigos later
Boop boopy doop
Your post reads like soup
The War with Iran May Already be Lost
https://steadystate1.substack.com/p/the-war-with-iran-may-already-be
In a month or two, if you want to find out more about this conflict, you will need to go to page 6 or 7 of the paper.
It’ll just be background noise for things more important.
lol. No. Epic Fuckup will be roiling the world for years.
Taking out the electricity supply needed to power military production isn’t a war crime.
Iran has already attacked Europe. I know you yanks a geographically challenged but Cyprus is part of Europe and has already been attacked by Iran or its proxies.
Iran attacking desalination plants is a war crime and that alone justifies taking them out. They are a terrorist regime and have funded attacks in my home country for many years that have killed more Egyptians than 9/11 and Pearl Harbour combined. The missiles that were used against Diego Garcia can just as easily reach my city and up the Nile. A government who lied about the range of its missiles isn’t trustworthy when it comes to its ability in regards its nuclear ambitions. For all we know they might send a missile against the Aswan High Dam or against Cairo loaded with a bomb. The Nile valley has 100 million, Cairo has 26 million. Paying a bit extra for petrol is worth it if Iran is no longer a threat
Now do the Israeli lies about Dimona in the 60’s
Ha! Just noticed you can’t spell Israel without l-i-e-s
How do we know the attacks on Cyprus, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Oman, and the Saudi Qatari infrastructure at the beginning was not Israel? Iran has denied all of these, whereas it does own many of the attacks since that have been tit for tat retaliation.
The US launched PRsM rocket artillery From Bahrein at desalination plants on Qeshm Island, so that redline has already been crossed.
USrael doesn’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to redlines, atrocities, or human rights in this context, unless you are cherry-picking events out of context.
You can track them on radar duh.
“A government who lied about the range of its missiles isn’t trustworthy”
How about a government that murders 175 people by firebombing a girls’ school?
Also, the US and Israel never reveal the true capabilities of their weaponry. No one does. That data is always classified, and instead the unclassified data that is released is always off, usually understated, and in some cases overstated in order to obfuscate vulnerabilities or exploitable limitations.
If lying about military weaponry capability were a casus belli for war, then every nation would be able to declare war on every other nation at any time.
The US says the war is over and Iran says the Straits are open so what is this fight all about?
Didn’t Japan, China, and India negotiate passage through the Straits already?
Didn’t Trump say this war was over and winding down?
Well this is what happens when you elect endless GOP hillbillies and hicks to run the government.
And regardless of what happens over the next 12 months (surrender or capitulation or whatever), in a few years, like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, etc, Iran will be back to being the same old Iran. Nothing gained but trillions flushed down the toilet and tens of thousands of lives lost.
The only real change is the US will be $50 trillion in debt, a deeper demographic death spiral, and lower quality of life.
Got exit strategy?
$50 trillion? Them’s rookie numbers.
I think about this quite a bit…the whole end of empire debt thingy.
I just don’t see an exit…other then a physical one. I have other successful friends who have already pulled up stakes and left the country for places in Asia. I remember Jim Rogers leaving for Asia years ago (to Singapore?)…again, worried about the day the US collapses.
What debt level get’s it done? $100 trillion? $200 T? maybe Japan offers some clues? Social security will be gone long before then for those that have to rely on it along with most other gov benefit programs. Lot of death and starvation ahead.
The good news, Israel will be fine
A US collapse would engulf the whole world. There will be nowhere to hide so Jim Rogers is wasting his time doing what he did other than potentially moving there for cheaper lifestyle.
This is like the opening stages of the so-called Great Patriotic War, where first the Soviets destroyed everything of value that they could in the face of the Nazi invaders, and then the Nazis answered with the equivalent destructiveness both during their occupation and subsequent retreat when the Soviets were able to counterattack in 1943.
Only the difference today is that drumpf is just frantically pulling whatever levers he can – “NATO and Asian nations must reopen the strait”, “no they are COWARDS and we don’t need them anyway”, “who cares the war is winding down”, and now “we’ll obliterate your power generation infrastructure”. 5-D chess my ass, he is making tactical decision after tactical decision, and pulling whatever lever seems to make sense in the moment.
And throw in Hogsbreath making ridiculous statements like ‘no quarter’ and his other nonsense. Definitely the most idiotic and unqualified Defense Department head in at least the 20th and 21st century, if not in the entire history of the US.
It’s like war by the Three Stooges, but dumber.
“History does not repeat itself, it rhymes”
Trump’s despair is deep it seems. China only needs to sit back and let Trump steer America into the abyss and then just pick up the pieces.
I’m sure Europeans are on the phone to the Mar A Lago golf course this weekend trying to get the senile old pedophile to back down. Last thing Europe needs is another wave of refugees heading their way which 100% happens if Trump escalates this.
Actually it’s the opposite.
As in the leaders are asking Trump to keep on going?
That’s what would make the most sense for Europe ‘in the long term’ given Iran can now strike Europe with missiles.
Yes. They want him to go all the way. The Gulf states too. Even Qatar. Europe is very interested in the Golden Dome now.
Which is why I ignored Trump’s bafflegab about winding the war down.
His Israeli master won’t let him and Trump is a monkey on a string.
Bibi spinning Trump like a dreidel
Again, the Strait is open…just not to Chrump ™ and Murder Inc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder%2C_Inc
If the strait is open then what’s the big deal? The US doesn’t ship anything through there (we get our oil elsewhere).
Of course at 2 million a toll on boats that might add up to 800 billion a year tax for those countries that do. I wonder how they’ll feel about paying that?
If only the executive branch and our military leaders would follow St Augustine’s Just War principles which is embedded in the US Law of War Manual we would not be in this mess of endless foreign wars and debt against “adversaries” which 98% of our citizens could not find on a map. Then again, if Congress should do their job and follow the Constitution this would end immediately.
But they won’t because they never have in the past for fear of being denounced as unpatriotic and then losing their election.
The only way congress is going to do something is with mass protests in the streets and that’s very unlikely to happen at this moment.
Don’t worry, the war is pretty much over anyway
I wish! It looks like Iran is probably going to win, but they appear prepared to exchange blows with U.S. and Israel for months to come, if not years (w/ help from Russia and China). The danger is that Netanyahu uses nuclear weapons to try to stop the gradual dismantlement that Israel is experiencing now.
Hopefully Pakistan will then put Israel out of our misery.
The World may be in for a big SURPRISE !
Why are we threatening to attack Iran’s power plants? To open the Strait of Hormuz.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz closed? Because we attacked Iran.
I can see this going on for a long time. A snake eating its tail.
Agree…The logic being used for disaster is incredible to watch.
Excellent observation. Added as a “Reader Observation Addendum” to my article.
Thanks