Trump threats cause dilemma for US officers: disobey orders or commit war crimes

Legal experts say attacking Iran’s infrastructure would constitute a war crime – but would military officers be held responsible?

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Donald Trump’s threats to carry out mass bombing of civilian infrastructure in Iran present US military officers with a dilemma: disobey orders or help commit war crimes.

It is an urgent matter for the US chain of command. In an explicit-laden threat, he set a Tuesday 8pm Washington time deadline for the Iranian government to open the strait of Hormuz or face “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one”.