Trump threatens to target Iranian civilian infrastructure, potentially constituting war crimes

President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to continue committing war crimes against Iran in an effort to halt attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump vowed to destroy "one bridge or power plant" for every time Iran attacks a ship in the strategic waterway.

Targeting civilian infrastructure is prohibited by international humanitarian law. Attacking a power plant would cause disproportionate harm to Iranian civilians.

If Trump follows through on this threat, it would not be the first time the U.S. military has committed war crimes in the president's military campaign against Iran. According to reports, the U.S. military has already:

• Bombed a nuclear power plant
• Executed a deadly double-tap strike on a bridge
• Violated the rules of engagement
• Killed dozens of children at a primary school

Trump's turn to war crimes reflects failed negotiation tactics, with the president's strategy appearing to be "keep bombing until the other side gives up." Meanwhile, the U.S. military is running out of weapons and money.

The threat to escalate these unlawful strikes comes as the death toll of U.S. service members has risen to 18, with hundreds more injured.

Read more: Trump Tries to Claim That 18 Dead Soldiers Is a Good Thing, Actually

Trump Administration's $13 Billion in Venezuelan Oil Revenue Unaccounted For

The Trump administration has collected approximately $13 billion after taking over Venezuela's oil exports following the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro, according to a Financial Times analysis. However, six months later—and one month after two devastating earthquakes—that money remains unaccounted for.

When Trump first seized "millions of barrels" of oil in January, he assumed complete control. His administration later proclaimed that any profit from the sales would be used for "the benefit of the American people and the Venezuelan people." The State Department has since claimed that "billions of dollars have been disbursed to the Venezuelan economy" and that "financial monitoring is under way to ensure funds benefit the Venezuelan people."

But none of this has been proven. The Financial Times reported Wednesday that there is no evidence of oil money being returned to Venezuelans, and that Venezuela's first-quarter gross domestic product was the lowest in five years.

"Trump's invasion of Venezuela has been about oil, power, and graft from the very beginning, with billions of dollars in Venezuelan oil revenue being controlled by the Trump administration without transparency or safeguards," Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro told the FT, adding that Congress had been "kept in the dark" by the administration.

On Tuesday, Republican Representative María Elvira Salazar called on Trump to disclose the transactions, citing "the importance of transparency over where the money is going."

Oil makes up nearly a quarter of Venezuela's entire GDP. In January, Semafor reported that Trump would keep proceeds from the first $500 million sale of Venezuelan oil in an offshore bank account based in Qatar.

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