Just 24 hours after claiming he isn’t seeking war with Iran, President Donald Trump Saturday night threatened that the U.S. is prepared to strike “52 Iranian sites” if Tehran retaliates for the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani.
“Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge,” Trump tweeted. “Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level and important to Iran and the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!”
Observers were quick to point out that the deliberate destruction of cultural sites is a war crime under international law.
What does he mean by sites important to "Iranian culture"?
Purposefully destroying cultural sites is considered a war crime as per UN resolution 2347. https://t.co/sEo4hk7j7w
— Nilo Tabrizy (@ntabrizy) January 4, 2020
“Those who still think that this President supports the people of Iran, please take note: He wants to target ‘Iranian Culture,'” wrote Independent correspondent Negar Mortazavi.
You know who targets cultural sites?
ISIS. https://t.co/MNvsp6mn3E https://t.co/iUTT0MH7kR— Negar Mortazavi (@NegarMortazavi) January 4, 2020
Via Common Dreams
