Baghaei: United States is normalizing war crimes

Pars Today – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the U.S. government is undermining fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and seeking to normalize war crimes.

According to Pars Today, citing IRIB News, Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the remarks in response to threats by U.S. officials to target civilian infrastructure, bridges, and power plants, saying such actions disregard fundamental rules of international law.

In a social media post, Baghaei wrote: "Do Not Commit War Crimes for Anyone; citing superior orders to justify war crimes does not absolve the perpetrators of criminal liability."

He added: "The U.S. ruling establishment intends to sacrifice whatever remains of international humanitarian law and the foundations of human ethics and civilization to its insatiable appetite for war and slaughter."

Baghaei said that a policy that calls for the destruction of bridges and power plants is manifestly unlawful and criminal. It constitutes reprisal and collective punishment—both of which are explicitly prohibited as war crimes under international humanitarian law and U.S. domestic law alike, specifically under 18 U.S.C. § 2441 (the War Crimes Act). There is no statute of limitations for these offenses. 

He further noted that the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Department of Defense Law of War Manual make it unequivocally clear that service members have both a legal and moral duty to refuse manifestly unlawful orders. 

Baghaei concluded: "Iran stands firm and resolute against lawlessness and the flouting of the law."