Breaking News: In one of the most provocative statements made by a senior US official since the Iran war began, UN Ambassador Mike Waltz declared Sunday that bombing every single bridge and every single power plant in Iran would not constitute a war crime — doubling down on President Trump's explosive Truth Social threat just hours before a new round of talks in Islamabad.
What Happened
UN Ambassador Mike Waltz defended President Trump's threat to destroy Iran's bridges and power plants Sunday, telling ABC's "This Week" that such strikes wouldn't amount to a war crime. "All options are on the table, absolutely," Waltz told anchor Jonathan Karl. "We could take that infrastructure out relatively easily. The Iranian air defenses have been absolutely decimated."
Trump threatened on Truth Social earlier Sunday to "knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran" if a deal isn't reached.
Key Details
Waltz's Full Argument. "Just to get ahead of a lot of the critics and hand-wringing, throwing out irresponsible terms like 'war crimes,' attacking, destroying infrastructure that has clearly and historically been used for dual military purposes is not a war crime," Waltz said.
The Direct Press Challenge. ABC's Jonathan Karl pressed: "The president today said that he would knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran. He's not just talking about those supporting the military. He's saying every bridge and every power plant in the country. That wouldn't be a war crime?"
Waltz's WWII Defense. "That would be an escalatory ladder. If you go back to World War II, of course we bombed and took down bridges, other infrastructure, power plants that yes, could be used for civilian, but also are used to manufacture drones and missiles," Waltz said.
On CBS Too. Waltz called the war crime framing "a false, fake, and ridiculous notion" on CBS's Face the Nation, adding: "Bridges, power plants that are run by the IRGC are absolute legitimate military targets."
What International Law Says. Under international humanitarian law, deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure can cross into war crime territory if the power plants or bridges are not being used for military purposes. Amnesty International warned of "large-scale civilian devastation" and catastrophic consequences for more than 90 million people in Iran.
The Historical Problem. The 1977 Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions, drafted after WWII, explicitly tightened rules against civilian infrastructure targeting — which complicates Waltz's use of WWII as legal precedent.
Congressional Pushback. Rep. Ro Khanna responded: "You have the pope lecturing America about possible war crimes. You have the president threatening to destroy all power plants. I didn't think we would ever get to that point."
Why It Matters
There is a fundamental tension at the heart of Waltz's argument that no amount of WWII comparisons can resolve. "Every bridge" and "every power plant" in a country of 93 million people is not dual-use military infrastructure — it is the backbone of an entire civilization's daily life.
The ceasefire expires Wednesday. The new round of talks begins Monday. And this is what American officials are saying on Sunday morning television.
Latest Updates
🔴 Trump threatens to bomb "every single Power Plant and Bridge" in Iran
🔴 Waltz on ABC and CBS: not a war crime
🔴 Amnesty warns of devastation for 90 million Iranian civilians
🔴 1977 Geneva Conventions protocols ban civilian infrastructure strikes
🔴 Rep. Khanna: "Even the Pope is lecturing us about war crimes"
🔴 Iran calls US blockade "a war crime and crime against humanity"
✅ New Islamabad talks set for Monday April 20
🔴 Ceasefire expires Wednesday April 22
Conclusion
Mike Waltz went on three major Sunday shows and delivered the same message: bombing every power plant and bridge in Iran would not be a war crime. International law experts, human rights organizations, Congress, and the Pope all disagree.
The ceasefire expires Wednesday. The talks resume Monday. The gap between "military infrastructure" and "every bridge and every power plant in a country of 93 million people" is not a legal footnote — it is the entire question.
Stay with us for live updates as the Islamabad talks unfold.
FAQ
Q1: What did Waltz say about
bombing Iran's infrastructure?
Waltz said on ABC and CBS that bombing
every bridge and power plant in Iran
would not be a war crime, calling
such criticism "false, fake, and
ridiculous." He compared it to WWII
bombing of civilian infrastructure.
Q2: What does international
law say about civilian infrastructure?
The 1977 Geneva Conventions protocols
explicitly prohibit targeting civilian
infrastructure. Amnesty International
warned destroying Iran's entire energy
and transport network could devastate
90 million Iranian civilians.
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