New Delhi, Apr 07, 2026 — The United Nations on Tuesday expressed alarm over comments by US President Donald Trump threatening strikes on Iran’s critical infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz escalate.
UN Secretary‑General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the rhetoric in the social media post and public statements was deeply worrying and urged all parties to comply strictly with international law. “We were alarmed by the rhetoric… that threatened American attacks on power plants, bridges and other infrastructure, should Iran not agree to a deal,” he said.
Reiterating the Secretary‑General’s long‑standing position, Dujarric stressed that civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, must never be targeted. Even where such sites are argued to have military value, he said, international humanitarian law forbids attacks that would cause disproportionate civilian harm. Any assault on civilian infrastructure, he warned, would amount to “a clear violation of international law,” while determinations about whether such acts constitute war crimes are matters for competent judicial bodies.
The UN comments came against a backdrop of rising tensions in West Asia, with Washington warning of strong military measures if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted, and concerns growing about the risk of a wider regional conflict.
At a White House press conference, President Trump renewed an ultimatum tied to demands including reopening the Strait and ensuring the free flow of oil, setting a deadline of 8 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday. He said the United States could “decimate” Iran’s infrastructure within hours and described a plan in which “every bridge in Iran will be decimated… where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding, and never to be used again,” adding such an operation could be carried out in about four hours if ordered.
Trump said Washington did not want to pursue such destruction and suggested the US might assist in rebuilding if an agreement were reached. He also claimed the US had demonstrated its capability by striking a major bridge in Iran within minutes after issuing orders, saying the action followed indications that negotiations were faltering.
