If Iran won’t budge, ramping up attacks — including on bridges and power plants —makes sense
US News Metro Long Island Politics
Sports NFL MLB Olympics NBA NHL College Football College Basketball WNBA
Business Personal Finance
Entertainment TV Movies Music Celebrities Awards Theater
Lifestyle Weird But True Sex & Relationships Viral Trends Human Interest Parenting Fashion & Beauty Food & Drink Travel
Health Wellness Fitness Health Care Medicine Men’s Health Women’s Health Mental Health Nutrition
Science Space Environment Wildlife Archaeology
Today’s Paper Covers Columnists Horoscopes Crosswords & Games Sports Odds Podcasts Careers
Email Newsletters Official Store Home Delivery Tips
Switch between CA and NY editions here.
If Iran won’t budge, ramping up attacks — including on bridges and power plants —makes sense
President Donald Trump’s threat to ramp up attacks on Iran, targeting its bridges and power plants, unless it agrees to open the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. Tuesday is not just justified — it’s generous.
More than generous, actually.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,” Trump posted Sunday morning. “Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business,” the president added Monday.
Trump-haters and lefty media types claim such actions would constitute war crimes and he’d face justice at a Nuremberg-style reckoning.
“Many experts agree that such attacks would be war crimes,” huffed Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). Chris Van Hollen (D. Md.) agrees, as do Mehdi Hasan and Hasan Piker, the Dems’ new media darling.
But it’s utter nonsense. For starters, taking out bridges to hobble an enemy is a basic wartime tactic.
More From Post Editorial Board
How Mamdani’s Rent Guidelines Board is cooking the numbers to set up his rent freeze
AOC lifts the veil: She won’t help protect innocent civilians — so long as they’re Israelis
The urgent lesson of America’s dramatic rescue of F-15E crewmen downed in Iran
The Geneva and Hague Conventions do limit wartime attacks to military objectives, and protect objects “normally dedicated to civilian purposes,” like churches, residences, schools and medical clinics, assuming they are not also being used to further military ends.
Yet bridges and power plants are classic dual-use facilities. Crippling the Iranian military would naturally include attacks on this infrastructure, even if civilians also happen to use it.
Nor is it like Iran even remotely observes international law itself.
In the current conflict, it’s raining down missiles on Israeli population centers and Dubai high-rises, and targeting Kuwaiti desalination and power plants. Why should its power plants be immune?
Remember, too: Tehran has spent 50 years killing civilians around the world through its terror network; it backed Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which featured mass rapes, beheadings, burning bodies.
Hundreds of civilians lost their lives, and 251 others were taken hostage and tortured.
Heck, closing the Strait of Hormuz is now inflicting enormous pain on the entire world.
Look, Trump (and, presumably, the left even more so) wants to end this war soon.
Yet he can’t end it with Iran still able to close the Strait, let alone turn it into a toll booth.
Nor can he leave Tehran able to fire missiles and launch drones at will, rebuild its military and continue with its nuclear program.
Yet Iran has yet to open the Strait or agree to terms for a cease-fire that satisfies Trump.
Leaving him little choice: If this war is to end soon, the president must step up the pressure.
Yes, that may bring additional hardship to Iran’s civilians, but Trump is likely right when he notes that many of them would gladly endure the extra pain if it meant their ultimate freedom.
Besides, limiting Iran’s electricity may also curb the regime’s ability to terrorize its people, and even perhaps open a path for them to rise up.
In any case, Trump-haters will bash him no matter what he does. But he needs to do what he needs to do to get this war over.
Ignore the haters, Mr. President. Finish the job.
Andrea Peyser Mad Mamdani's NY: Homeless couple allowed to drink and have sex in middle of the sidewalk
Mad Mamdani's NY: Homeless couple allowed to drink and have sex in middle of the sidewalk
Rikki Schlott Women have been 'looksmaxxing' for decades, Gen Z men are just catching up — and realizing the pressures
Women have been 'looksmaxxing' for decades, Gen Z men are just catching up — and realizing the pressures
Miranda Devine Gavin's first partner is a ‘New’sance
Gavin's first partner is a ‘New’sance
Front Cover Back Cover
Trending Now on NYPost.com
This story has been shared 72,783 times. 72,783 New Nancy Guthrie ransom notes sent to TMZ claim to know her location as Savannah makes 'Today' show return
New Nancy Guthrie ransom notes sent to TMZ claim to know her location as Savannah makes 'Today' show return
This story has been shared 54,694 times. 54,694 Rory McIlroy's 'reckless' behavior destroyed one relationship — then his marriage barely survived it
Rory McIlroy's 'reckless' behavior destroyed one relationship — then his marriage barely survived it
This story has been shared 50,309 times. 50,309 CBS reveals 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' replacement
CBS reveals 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' replacement
Howard Stern sued by ex-assistant as she exposes alleged hostile work environment
Stream It Or Skip It: 'Dear Killer Nannies' On Hulu, A Drama Detailing The Life Of Pablo Escobar's Son And The Drug War He Inherited
New Nancy Guthrie ransom notes sent to TMZ claim to know her location as Savannah makes 'Today' show return
Sections & Features US News Metro World News Sports Sports Betting Business Opinion Entertainment Fashion & Beauty Shopping Lifestyle Real Estate Media Tech Science Health Travel Astrology Video Photos Alexa Covers Horoscopes Sports Odds Podcasts Crosswords & Games Columnists Classifieds
Post Sports+ Subscribe Articles Manage
Newsletters & Feeds Email Newsletters RSS Feeds NY Post Official Store Home Delivery Subscribe Manage Subscription Delivery Help
NY Post Official Store
Home Delivery Subscribe Manage Subscription
Help/Support About New York Post Editorial Standards New York Post Awards & Recognition Customer Service Apps Help Community Guidelines Contact Us Tips Newsroom Letters to the Editor Licensing & Reprints Careers Vulnerability Disclosure Program
New York Post Awards & Recognition
Contact Us Tips Newsroom Letters to the Editor Licensing & Reprints Careers Vulnerability Disclosure Program
Letters to the Editor
Vulnerability Disclosure Program
Apps iPhone App iPad App Android Phone Android Tablet
Advertise Media Kit Contact
