Desk Report; Brussels/Tehran: The President of the European Council, António Costa, has strongly condemned potential military strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure, labeling any such action as “illegal” and “unacceptable” under international law. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Costa emphasized that diplomatic dialogue is the only viable path to ending the ongoing Iran-US war.
Trump Threatens Energy, Transport Links
The statement follows a recent threat from US President Donald Trump, who on Sunday posted an ultimatum to Iran on his platform, ‘Truth Social’. Using aggressive and explicit language, Trump demanded Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
In his post, which directly threatened Iran’s sovereignty, Trump wrote, “Next Tuesday will be ‘Power Plant Day’ and ‘Bridge Day’ in Iran, all happening at once. A sight no one has ever seen before! Open the Strait of Hormuz now you maniacs, or there will be hell to pay! Just watch. Pray to God.” This clear threat indicates US forces may be targeting Iran’s electricity generation and strategically important bridges if shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz is not restored.
Costa Reiterates EU Opposition to Destruction
Responding to this direct escalation, António Costa said, “targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly energy centers, is illegal and in no way acceptable.” He reiterated that the European Union has consistently opposed such destructive measures from the beginning.
International Law Experts Raise Alarm
Legal experts have also voiced significant concern. Luis Moreno Ocampo, the founding Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), stated in a BBC interview that this war against Iran is a crime under international law, as an unprovoked attack cannot be justified.
Furthermore, more than a hundred international law experts have signed an open letter expressing deep concern that the actions of the United States, Israel, and Iran could seriously violate international law.