Urgent calls for an end to the Iran war
The President’s threat that a “whole civilization will die” has prompted strong rebuke and concern among Democratic lawmakers.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged Republicans to “put patriotic duty over party and stop the madness.”
Congress “must immediately end this reckless war of choice in Iran before Donald Trump plunges us into World War III,” he argued.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also condemned the President’s remarks.
“Each Republican who refuses to join us in voting against this wanton war of choice owns every consequence of whatever the hell this is,” said Schumer.
Trump dismisses war crime concerns
Some lawmakers have argued that Trump’s proposed targeting of Iran’s infrastructure could constitute war crimes.
“Trump is calling reporters today to tell them he is going to commit mass war crimes next week. GOP leaders need to stop him,” said Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut over the weekend. “Never mind that blowing up bridges and power plants and killing innocent Iranians won’t reopen the Strait.”
He argued: “It’s also a clear war crime.”
Sen. Schumer said Trump is “threatening possible war crimes and alienating allies.”
“Trump is openly threatening to commit blatant war crimes—putting our service members and national security at enormous risk,” argued Democratic Rep. Maxine Dexter of Oregon. “He is prioritizing paying for a senseless war over caring for working people.”
Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, the daughter of Iranian immigrants, said “Trump is escalating a devastating, illegal war, threatening massive war crimes and targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran.”
“I’m not worried about it,” Trump told reporters Monday, when asked what he would say to people who might be concerned that bombing civilian power plants could be a war crime.
“You know what’s a war crime? Having a nuclear weapon. Allowing a sick country with demented leadership [to] have a nuclear weapon. That’s a war crime,” he argued.
Oil prices surge as Trump doubles down on infrastructure threat
Oil prices rose sharply Tuesday following Trump’s renewed threats, with Brent crude topping $115 per barrel.
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which around a fifth of global oil supply flows, remains largely blocked.
The Trump Administration has offered mixed messaging on the importance of unblocking the Strait.
In late March, the White House signaled a willingness to end the Iran war without reopening the waterway.
But on Monday, Trump described it as a “very big priority” after he issued a direct warning to Iran over the weekend, telling the country to “open the f–kin’ Strait” or they’ll be “living in hell.”
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