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Donald Trump's open threats to commit war crimes in Iran have raised concerns about his impunity. The US Supreme Court's recent ruling in Trump v United States has given him reason to believe he can act with impunity within the US. However, there are international options for prosecution that lie beyond the court's lawless license.Trump's plan to bomb Iran and destroy civilian infrastructure, such as desalination plants, electrical-generating facilities, and bridges, would violate international humanitarian law's rule of proportionality. The destruction of civilian infrastructure would have a disproportionate impact on civilians, and therefore, it is not justified.The International Criminal Court (ICC) has charged Russian military commanders with war crimes for attacking electrical infrastructure in Ukraine. Similarly, Trump's actions could be prosecuted as war crimes. However, the ICC has no jurisdiction over crimes committed on Iranian territory since Iran is not a member of the ICC.There are alternative routes for prosecution. The Iranian government could join the ICC and grant it retroactive jurisdiction, similar to what Ukraine did to allow prosecution of Russian war crimes. Additionally, under the concept of universal jurisdiction, governments can use their national courts to prosecute certain crimes even if committed by non-nationals abroad.A group of countries, such as the European Union, NATO, or the G7, could establish an international tribunal to address crimes committed in Iran, including war crimes and aggression. This would allow Trump to be prosecuted as soon as the tribunal is established, without waiting for him to leave office.

The ongoing conflict between the US and Iran has raised concerns about the protection of civilians in war. Donald Trump's threats to bomb civilian infrastructure, including power stations, desalination plants, and bridges, have been widely criticized as potential war crimes. In a recent statement, Trump doubled down on his threat, saying that a whole civilization will die if his demands are not met. This rhetoric has sparked fears of a humanitarian crisis and raised questions about the US's commitment to protecting civilians in war.Historically, the protection of civilians has been a cornerstone of international law. The Geneva Conventions, established in 1949, clearly state that civilian objects shall not be the object of attack or reprisals. The US has a long tradition of upholding these principles, dating back to the Lieber Code of 1863, which established protocols for the protection of the innocent during the Civil War.The article argues that protecting civilians is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength and self-discipline. It cites examples of leaders who have prioritized humanitarian concerns in times of war, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt's vision for a world united around democratic values and international organizations. In contrast, Trump's approach has been criticized for its lack of nuance and disregard for humanitarian concerns. The article notes that the US must distinguish between military targets and civilian infrastructure, and that cyber-attacks and other non-lethal methods should be used whenever possible to minimize harm to civilians.Ultimately, the article concludes that upholding American values and international law is essential to maintaining global stability and preventing humanitarian crises. By prioritizing the protection of civilians, the US can demonstrate its commitment to humanitarian principles and show that it is capable of fighting wars with greater purpose and a plan for peace.

President Donald Trump issued an unprecedented ultimatum on Tuesday, stating that if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. ET, he will "completely annihilate the entirety of Iranian civilization." The threat, posted on his Truth Social platform, was accompanied by language suggesting a total regime change and a benediction to the Iranian people. Democratic officials reacted with alarm. Senator Patty Murray called the post "the rantings of a bloodthirsty lunatic," while Senator Chris Coons labeled it "a threat to commit a war crime." Representative Joaquin Castro warned that the rhetoric implied either a nuclear option or an attempt to convince Tehran of such a possibility, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman urged invoking the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office. Legal scholars highlighted that the United States and Iran are parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, which bans collective punishment of civilian populations, and to Additional Protocol I, which prohibits attacks on essential civilian infrastructure. Although the U.S. has not ratified the protocol, a 2024 Biden‑era statement affirmed that its core principles are binding as customary international law. During a chaotic White House press conference, Trump reiterated that "the entire country could be taken out in one night" if Iran failed to meet the deadline, and dismissed concerns about civilian casualties by claiming Iranian civilians themselves were urging continued bombing. When pressed about violations of the Geneva Conventions, he did not dispute the legal point but responded, "I hope I don’t have to do it." The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded that the strait "will never return to its previous state" for the United States and its allies, underscoring the escalating rhetoric on both sides. Amid the diplomatic flare‑up, the administration also submitted a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget request, featuring sweeping cuts to domestic programs, further intensifying scrutiny of the president’s foreign‑policy priorities. Critics note contradictions in Trump’s stance: weeks earlier he claimed the U.S. had no strategic need for Hormuz, yet now the strait’s reopening is the centerpiece of his ultimatum. He simultaneously declared the war "won" while threatening its most destructive phase. With Democrats urging constitutional remedies and international law experts warning of potential war‑crime violations, the situation places U.S. foreign policy and domestic governance under unprecedented pressure.

A sharp political row has ignited between the central government in Madrid and the Basque regional authorities over a request to display Picasso’s Guernica at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao from 1 October to 30 June, coinciding with the 90th anniversary of the town’s devastating aerial attack.The masterpiece has been housed in Madrid’s Reina Sofía museum since 1992, and previous appeals to relocate it to the Basque Country have been consistently rejected.The latest demand has seen Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the outspoken conservative president of the Community of Madrid, and Aitor Esteban, leader of the Basque nationalist party, exchange barbed remarks, each accusing the other of a “provincial” outlook.Ayuso argued that moving the painting “doesn’t make sense” and quipped that, if origin mattered, “all of Picasso’s works should be sent to Málaga,” the artist’s birthplace. She also warned that the Reina Sofía fears the relocation could damage the delicate canvas.Esteban shot back, suggesting that Ayuso’s notion of national identity was reduced to “drinking beer on a terrace bar,” a jab at her stance on keeping Madrid’s bars open during the pandemic.Basque president Imanol Pradales challenged the Spanish government’s resolve, asking whether it could muster the courage to move Guernica after having “dragged Franco out of his tomb.” He framed the decision as a test of political will.The Basque administration proposes to exhibit the work at the Guggenheim for eight months, framing the display as a tribute to the victims of the 1937 bombing of the town of Guernica.The black‑and‑white canvas captures the horror of the attack carried out by the German Condor Legion and the Italian air force on 26 April 1937, an early example of strategic aerial bombardment of civilians during the Spanish Civil War.Casualty estimates for the raid vary widely—from as few as 126 to as many as 1,654 dead—yet the painting has become an enduring global symbol of the atrocities of war.After its debut at the 1937 Paris International Exposition, Guernica toured Europe and the United States. Picasso, who opposed its return to Spain under Franco’s dictatorship, later allowed it to reside at New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) for several decades.Art historian Francisco Chaparro cautioned that, while the Spanish government cannot entirely rule out a move, the risk of damage must outweigh any political motivations. He likened the situation to the Mona Lisa’s permanent stay at the Louvre and Velázquez’s *Las Meninas* at the Prado, noting that Guernica has been “rolled and unrolled on numerous occasions.”Artist José Manuel Ballester reminded observers that Picasso himself had envisioned the painting hanging in the Prado, a position he never assumed during the civil war.In 2000, the Reina Sofía rejected a request from MoMA to loan Guernica, declaring that the “great icon of our museum must remain, without exception, separate from the policy on lending works to other museums.”Note: The article was amended on 7 April 2026 to include the German Condor Legion alongside the Italian air force in describing the 1937 bombing.

Yemen's civilians are bracing for the worst as the country's Houthi rebels have entered the war against Iran, sparking fears of a new chapter of suffering in a nation already grappling with a critical humanitarian situation. The involvement of the Houthis, who control the capital city of Sanaa, has raised concerns among locals about potential Israeli retaliation, which could trigger displacement, fuel shortages, and inflation. Yasser, a 45-year-old ice cream shop owner in Sanaa, expressed his worries about the impact on his business and family. “The moment Israel begins its military response to the Houthis, we will lose the little comfort we have today. Fear, price hikes, and fuel shortages will suffocate us. The end of the conflict is unpredictable,” he said. The Houthis' decision to enter the war has been met with a mix of fear and support from civilians. While some, like Ammar Ahmed, a 28-year-old taxi driver, are worried about the safety of their families and the potential for Israeli attacks on residential areas, others, like Mohammed Ali, a 26-year-old university graduate, have expressed their support for the Houthi leadership and their faith in their ability to withstand the conflict. Economists warn that Yemen's already crippled economy would decline further if the country becomes a new front in the widening conflict in the region. Wafiq Saleh, a Yemeni economic researcher, noted that the escalation will drive up prices for essential imports, including food, fuel, and medicine, as shipping and insurance costs rise. The humanitarian situation in Yemen is already dire, with United Nations reports indicating that the escalating conflict in the wider region risks exacerbating the country's economic situation and disrupting vital humanitarian and commercial supply chains.

For Konstantin, a 53‑year‑old resident of St Petersburg, the war in Ukraine has become a literal scent in the air. Over the past fortnight he has repeatedly detected the acrid odor of burning crude, fuel and chemicals drifting from Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia’s two largest Baltic oil terminals. The facilities at Ust‑Luga and Primorsk together handle about 40% of Moscow’s seaborne oil exports and roughly 2% of global oil supply, according to the International Energy Agency. Both ports lie within 150 km of St Petersburg, making the smoke visible – and smelt – to locals. Ukrainian drones have flown more than 1,000 km from the front lines to strike storage tanks and loading infrastructure, igniting fires that have burned for days. The smell, described by Konstantin as a mix of diesel exhaust, burning plastic and rotten eggs, first appeared in late March. These attacks are a key element of Kyiv’s strategy to erode Russia’s “unexpected windfall” from oil exports, a revenue stream that has surged as the US‑Israel campaign against Iran pushed global oil prices higher. Satellite imagery shows extensive damage at both terminals, with Ust‑Luga’s sprawling processing complex blackened by fire. As a result, both ports are currently unable to dispatch cargo, forcing traders to reroute oil to smaller Baltic and Black Sea ports that lack the capacity to absorb the displaced volume. Financial analysts estimate that the disruption has already cost Moscow roughly $1 billion in lost export earnings, according to Bloomberg data released on March 31. Moreover, every $10 rise in global oil prices translates into about $1.6 billion of additional monthly income for the Kremlin. Russian officials have blamed European nations for allegedly facilitating the drone overflights, but Ukrainian experts dispute this claim. Andrey Pronin, a pioneer of Ukraine’s drone warfare, emphasized that the strikes are meticulously planned to stay within Russian airspace, bypassing air‑defence systems. Since the campaign began, Ukrainian forces have targeted 13 oil sites, seriously damaging at least eight refineries from the Baltic coast to the Volga region. The attacks are timed to coincide with the heightened profitability Russia enjoys from the Iran‑related oil price surge, according to researcher Nikolay Mitrokhin of Bremen University. Beyond the immediate economic impact, Kyiv views the strikes as leverage in negotiations with Moscow. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has floated the idea of a temporary moratorium on attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure in exchange for concessions, though the strategy also inadvertently benefits Iran by sustaining higher oil prices. On the tactical side, Ukraine now relies heavily on FP‑1 drones produced by the domestic Firepoint company. These unmanned aircraft can carry up to 120 kg of explosives and travel roughly 1,500 km, enabling strikes deep inside Russian territory. For civilians living near the conflict zones, the nightly “fireworks” of explosions have become a grim routine. Abdulla, a Tatar resident of Crimea, described the constant shelling as a new normal, while analysts note that President Vladimir Putin remains resolute, using the ongoing talks with the White House as a diplomatic façade. Overall, the Ukrainian drone campaign illustrates how modern warfare increasingly intertwines kinetic attacks with strategic economic disruption, reshaping the dynamics of the Russia‑Ukraine war and its broader geopolitical reverberations.

At least ten displaced Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded, including six in critical condition, after Israeli drones launched two missiles near a school housing refugees in the central Gaza Maghazi refugee camp, health officials reported. The strike occurred amid clashes between residents and an Israeli‑backed militia that had allegedly attempted to abduct people from the school. Witnesses said the militia’s leader later claimed to have killed five Hamas members, a statement that could not be independently verified. According to Al‑Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, the victims were struck east of the camp, where residents were trying to defend their homes. "The residents tried to defend their homes, but the occupation forces targeted them directly," said Ahmed al‑Maghazi to Reuters. The Maghazi camp, once one of the smallest Palestinian refugee enclaves with roughly 30,000 residents, has seen its population more than triple since the war began, according to UNRWA. Despite being designated by the Israeli military as a "safe zone," the area has suffered multiple lethal attacks, including a December 2023 strike that killed over 100 civilians, primarily women and children. Earlier on the same day, a World Health Organization (WHO) staff member was killed and several others injured when Israeli forces opened fire on a WHO vehicle, underscoring the broader risk to humanitarian personnel in the region. The latest incident highlights the fragility of ceasefire arrangements reached in October and raises urgent questions about the protection of civilians in areas purportedly shielded from conflict.

President Donald Trump’s recent proclamation that Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face a combined "Power Plant Day" and "Bridge Day" has thrust senior U.S. officers into a stark ethical quandary: obey a presidential directive that could breach international law, or risk court‑martial for insubordination. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned that failure to comply would result in an unprecedented strike on Iran’s civilian energy infrastructure, a move that legal scholars agree would amount to a war crime against 93 million civilians. Two former judge‑advocate general officers, Margaret Donovan and Rachel VanLandingham, emphasized that such rhetoric, if acted upon, would place service members on a “path of no return,” directly contradicting the extensive legal training that defines permissible orders. Historical precedent underscores the gravity of the situation. During the Vietnam War, officers who participated in the My Lai massacre were ultimately held accountable, with the court rejecting the “just following orders” defence as the orders were deemed “palpably illegal.” Professor Charli Carpenter of the University of Massachusetts Amherst notes that while many troops can identify manifestly unlawful commands in surveys, translating that awareness into real‑time refusal is far more challenging, especially when the military culture heavily emphasizes obedience to the chain of command. Since assuming office, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reshaped the Pentagon’s legal advisory structure, dismissing senior JAG officials and dismantling the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response unit created under the previous administration. Consequently, service members now rely on a “GI rights hotline,” whose usage has reportedly surged under the current leadership. Beyond conventional strikes, Trump’s escalating rhetoric has raised alarms about the potential use of nuclear force. Under U.S. protocol, the president alone can initiate a nuclear launch, with the “nuclear football” – a briefcase containing strike options and authentication codes – handed to a close aide. The only safeguard is for senior commanders to deem such an order illegal, a step that experts fear may never occur. Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, during the previous administration, reportedly instructed senior officers to stay involved in any nuclear decision due to concerns about Trump’s volatility. Nuclear weapons scholar Jeffrey Lewis now warns that confidence in any contemporary intervention is essentially nonexistent, citing Trump’s pattern of purging dissenting military personnel. As the deadline looms, the United States faces a precarious balance between upholding international humanitarian law and navigating a command structure that may be unwilling or unable to challenge the commander‑in‑chief’s most extreme directives.

The recent commentary on Donald Trump's presidency has highlighted a critical concern: the world cannot afford to wait for him to leave office. Trump's administration has effectively eroded central tenets of the US legal and civic structure, rendering the traditional checks and balances on political power ineffective.Waiting for the downfall of one individual raises two crucial questions. Firstly, will others with similar politics simply take his place? Secondly, if the country and the world wish to move in a different direction, when can we expect to see a plan?It is essential to remember that changes brought about by Trump's presidency cannot always be easily abolished or replaced. The implications of his actions, and those of his administration, are far-reaching and have significant consequences for global stability.Some argue that faith in the November midterm elections may be too optimistic, as Trump and his administration are already preparing to undermine them. The concern is that he will not allow himself to lose.Others suggest that the media and public have a role to play in puncturing Trump's pride and casting doubt on his legacy. Keeping a running count of the death toll of civilians, children, aid workers, and journalists killed since his presidency began could be one way to hold him accountable.The situation has drawn comparisons to the fall of the Roman Empire, with some warning that the current instability could lead to a similar collapse of political structures. As such, there is an urgent need for a plan to address the consequences of Trump's actions and to work towards a more stable future.