Over 100 US-based legal experts declare Trump's strikes on Iran as possible war crimes
Over 100 US-based legal experts and practitioners have signed a letter declaring the war launched by President Donald Trump, jointly with Israel, on Iran a violation of international law, with the strikes potentially constituting war crimes.
The letter emphasised that the war was illegal from its very beginning on 28 February.
“The initiation of the campaign was a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, and the conduct of United States forces since, as well as statements made by senior government officials, raise serious concerns about violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes,” said the letter.
While the letter is focused on the conduct of the US government, it also denounced the Iranian government’s crackdown on dissent and its “ongoing unlawful strikes on civilian infrastructure using explosive weapons in densely populated areas”.
The signatories underlined the importance of the principle of the “equal application of international law to all”, including to powerful nations.
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They rejected the rhetoric used by US officials downplaying the significance of the laws of war as “profoundly alarming and dangerously short-sighted”.
“These claims, particularly in combination with the observable conduct of U.S. forces, are harming the international legal order and the system of international law that we have devoted our lives to promoting.”
The letter noted that the war has cost US taxpayers between $1-2bn daily and has also taken a severe toll on civilians in Iran and the region, killing thousands and wreaking havoc on the environment and economies in the Middle East.
Unjustified war
The letter criticised both the inherent illegality of the decision to go to war and the potential illegality of the conduct during the war.
First, the experts reiterated an argument upheld by many legal experts since the assault began, saying the initiation of the war was unjustified by the rules governing the right to self-defence.
'Public statements by senior officials indicate an alarming disrespect for the rules of international humanitarian law accepted by states'
- letter from US legal experts
“Force against another state is only permitted in self-defense against an actual or imminent armed attack or where authorized by the UN Security Council,” they said.
“The Security Council did not authorize the attack. Iran did not attack Israel or the United States.”
They also said that “there is no evidence that Iran posed an imminent threat that could ground a self-defense claim”.
The letter further states that there are indications the laws of armed conflict have been violated, including US strikes on civilians and civilian targets, including politicians not serving in the military, and assaults on energy infrastructure and desalination plants.
It cited the Iranian Red Crescent figures that documented attacks on 67,414 civilian sites, including 498 schools and 236 health facilities. It added that at least 1,443 Iranian civilians, including 217 children, were reportedly killed by the US and Israel between 28 February and 23 March.
The letter said the strike on the primary school in Minab, which killed at least 175, mostly young school girls, “likely violates international humanitarian law” and that "if evidence is found that those responsible were reckless, it could also be a war crime”.
Despite denials by Trump that the US carried out the strike, a preliminary government investigation concluded that the US military was behind the strike and that the targeting of the school was based on outdated intelligence.
The experts further expressed concern about “dangerous” statements by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in which he said: “We will keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies.”
International and US military law places a special prohibition on declaring that no quarter will be given, meaning the refusal to spare the life of someone who has expressed their intention to surrender.
They noted that ordering or threatening no quarter is also considered a war crime under international criminal law.
The letter also denounced Hegseth’s statements that the US does not follow “stupid rules of engagement” and Trump’s January comment that “I don’t need international law”.
Degrading the rule of law
Trump’s threats to attack energy infrastructure could also entail war crimes if implemented, added the letter.
Attacks on civilian energy infrastructure are prohibited under international law. When a power plant serves both civilian and military purposes, it may be considered a legitimate military target only if it makes an “effective contribution to military action” and the attack provides a “definite military advantage,” they added.
In any case, strikes must adhere to the principles of proportionality and precautions in attack.
The experts warned against attacks on nuclear power plants, saying they require “particular care” due to the high risk to millions of civilians in the event of the release of radiation and radioactive material.
Furthermore, the experts raised concerns over Hegseth’s policies aimed at weakening US compliance with international law since he became defense secretary.
Under his leadership, senior military lawyers have been sacked, and army, navy and air force judge advocates-general replaced. This has undermined legal oversight of military activities, according to the experts.
His 2026 national defence strategy has also omitted any reference to civilian protection and international law.
“We are gravely concerned that the conduct and threats outlined here are causing serious harm to civilians in the Middle East, and that they also contribute to escalating the conflict, damaging the environment and the global economy, and that they risk degrading the rule of law and fundamental norms that protect every nation’s civilians,” the letter said.
“Public statements by senior officials indicate an alarming disrespect for the rules of international humanitarian law accepted by states, and which protect both civilians and members of the armed forces.
“We urge U.S. government officials to uphold the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, and human rights law at all times, and to publicly make clear U.S. commitment to and respect for norms of international law,” they concluded.
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