Here’s the rewritten English news article:
US Senator Condemns Trump’s “Obvious War Crime” Threats Against Iran
Democrat Senator Chris Murphy Criticizes President’s Escalatory Rhetoric
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, a prominent Democrat, has sharply criticized recent threats made by President Donald Trump against Iran, characterizing them as “obvious war crimes” if carried out. The senator voiced his strong disapproval on the social platform X, where he stated that President Trump’s remarks to reporters amounted to a declaration of intent to commit widespread war crimes in the coming week.
Republican Leadership Urged to Intervene
Senator Murphy issued a direct appeal to Republican leadership, urging them to intervene and prevent the President from pursuing such actions. He emphasized that even if the proposed actions—such as targeting bridges and power plants and causing civilian casualties—do not achieve the stated goal of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, they would still constitute a clear violation of international law.
President Trump’s Escalatory Warnings
President Trump had previously warned Iran that significant military action against its infrastructure would follow if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened. In a social media post, the President declared Tuesday to be “Power Plant Day and Bridge Day in Iran,” suggesting a coordinated strike on critical national assets. He reiterated that the United States would resort to military measures against Iranian infrastructure if the strategic waterway remained closed. These pronouncements represent the latest in a series of signals from the White House regarding potential targeting of vital Iranian infrastructure.
Shifting Timelines and Diplomatic Ambiguity
President Trump’s deadlines for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz have reportedly shifted, with the President having previously stated that the waterway would naturally reopen after the current conflict concluded. However, in interviews on Sunday, the US President also suggested that Washington might reach an agreement with Tehran soon, adding a layer of ambiguity to the administration’s stance.
Critique of Civilian Targeting and Strategic Rationale
Senator Murphy specifically took issue with President Trump’s focus on infrastructure, noting that the President was “not even pretending to target military targets.” Murphy argued that the President appears willing to cause mass civilian casualties to instill widespread fear. The Senator elaborated that even a partial destruction of Iran’s power plants and bridges would inevitably lead to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians working at these facilities and traveling across the country, deeming such actions as war crimes.
Murphy questioned the strategic rationale behind such threats, highlighting the inconsistency of demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which was open before President Trump’s actions began. He described the approach as “sheer madness” that would not yield the desired results but would instead permanently tarnish the reputation of the United States.
