Evizda

Just 24 hours after claiming he isn’t seeking war with Iran, President Donald Trump Saturday night threatened that the U.S. is prepared to strike “52 Iranian sites” if Tehran retaliates for the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani.

“Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge,” Trump wrote in a series of tweets. “Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level and important to Iran and  the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!”

Observers were quick to point out that the deliberate destruction of cultural sites is a war crime under international law.

“The U.S. has waged a campaign of terror against Iraq and Iran for more than six decades. Coups, invasions, bombings, sanctions, support for despots and death squads,” wrote The Intercept‘s Jeremy Scahill in response to the president’s tirade. “Trump is now broadcasting his intent to commit more war crimes. None of this is happening in a history-free vacuum.”