European Union leaders have warned U.S. President Donald Trump that any strikes targeting Iranian civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, would constitute a war crime, hours before Washington’s deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz expires.
“Any targeting of civilian infrastructure, namely energy facilities, is illegal and unacceptable,” European Council President António Costa said Monday. “The Iranian civilian population would be the main victim of any escalation, just as in other conflicts, such as Russia’s war in Ukraine.”
Trump previously warned on his Truth Social platform that Tuesday would be “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day” if Iran did not lift its maritime blockade of the strategic waterway. International law experts have cautioned that deliberately striking civilian infrastructure violates the laws of war.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Monday that the U.S. “will always act within the confines of the law.”
Costa, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has been actively engaged in diplomacy, speaking recently with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as well as leaders from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan. The EU’s goal, according to a senior official, is to “advance de-escalation, protect civilians, and create space for diplomacy.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s threats have fueled tensions with European allies, many of whom have refused to allow U.S. forces to use bases in Europe for potential strikes. The U.K. recently hosted a virtual meeting of 41 countries, including France, Germany, and Canada, to coordinate a diplomatic push via the United Nations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has demanded that vessels pay tolls for safe passage through the strait, a key route connecting oil- and gas-exporting nations like Qatar and Saudi Arabia to global markets. Shipping data indicates that 26 vessels have passed through the waterway since March 13, with some paying fees in Chinese yuan.
