During a press conference in the Oval Office on July 24, 2026, President Donald Trump was questioned about his recent threat to bomb civilian infrastructure in Iran, specifically power plants and bridges. The inquiry raised concerns about whether such actions would be classified as war crimes. Trump chose not to answer the question directly, expressing annoyance and identifying the reporter from The New York Times.
Trump had previously stated on Truth Social that any Iranian attacks on U.S. ships in the Strait of Hormuz would result in the bombing of one bridge or power plant in Iran, including those in Tehran. International law differentiates between military targets and civilian infrastructure, with the latter being protected from attack.
As tensions escalated, the U.S. military conducted 13 consecutive nights of strikes against Iranian targets. When asked about a potential exit strategy from the conflict, Trump suggested that a military approach could continue, but also mentioned a preference for negotiating a deal with Iran, claiming that negotiations were ongoing despite the hostilities.