UN alarmed by US rhetoric threatening attacks on Iranian power plants, bridges: Spokesperson
United Nations: The United Nations is alarmed by the US rhetoric that threatens attacks on Iran’s power plants and bridges, a UN spokesperson said.
“We were alarmed by the rhetoric seen in that social media post that threatened American attacks on power plants, bridges, and other infrastructure should Iran not agree to a deal,” Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at a daily briefing.
“The secretary-general has been very clear on issues regarding international law, and he urges yet again all parties to abide by their obligations regarding the conduct of these hostilities,” he said.
According to the spokesman, Guterres recalls that civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, may not be attacked, even if specific civilian infrastructure were to qualify as a military objective, Xinhua news agency reported.
“Once again, the secretary-general reaffirms that it’s high time for the parties to stop this conflict as there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes,” he said.
When asked if such attacks could constitute war crimes in the UN chief’s view, Dujarric said that “they would constitute violations of international law” and that whether it is a crime or not “would have to be decided by a court.”
“But any attack on civilian infrastructure is a violation of international law, and a very clear one,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned a US and Israeli attack on the Sharif University of Technology in the capital Tehran, which severely damaged the building of its information technology center and a gas substation near the academic center’s mosque.
Iran’s army said Sunday it has targeted petrochemical industries and petroleum products storage facilities in southern Israel, as well as US equipment depots, satellite communication units and troops in a base in Kuwait.