State of the World from NPR Is the U.S. threatening to commit war crimes in Iran?
Apr 1, 2026
Gabor Rona, director of Cardozo’s Law and Armed Conflict Project and former Red Cross legal advisor. He explains how strikes on desalination and other civilian infrastructure raise legal alarms. He distinguishes intentional from accidental attacks. He discusses why past violations do not justify retaliation and what accountability could look like.
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Targeting Civilian Infrastructure Is A War Crime
- Deliberately attacking essential civilian infrastructure like desalination plants constitutes a war crime under international and U.S. law.
- Gabor Rona notes U.S. statutes, terrorism laws, and international law forbid attacks intended to spread terror or deprive civilians of necessities like water.
Mistakes Can Still Be War Crimes
- Both intentional and mistaken attacks can be war crimes if due diligence isn't followed under U.S. law.
- Rona contrasts an apparently mistaken strike on a girls' school with deliberate attacks, stressing legal liability for failures of precaution.
One Side's Violations Don't Justify Another's
- Violations by one party do not legally justify reciprocal violations by another party.
- Rona emphasizes moral and legal reasons the U.S. should not emulate Iran's breaches of the laws of armed conflict.