24 March 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Responding to statements by United States President Donald Trump that the USA would postpone strikes on Iran\u2019s power plants and energy infrastructure by five days pending the outcome of discussions on the \u201cresolution of hostilities\u201d, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International\u2019s Senior Director of Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, said<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPresident Donald Trump must retract deeply irresponsible threats of acts that would unleash catastrophic harm on millions of civilians. The decision to not proceed with such attacks must be based on the USA\u2019s obligations under international humanitarian law to avoid civilian harm \u2013 not the outcome of political negotiations. Going through with such attacks would cause devastating long-term consequences and severely undermine the international legal framework designed to protect civilians in wartime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Islamic Republic of Iran\u2019s authorities must also retract their threats to retaliate by striking power plants used by the USA and Israel as well as economic, industrial, and other energy infrastructure in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. They must end all unlawful attacks against energy infrastructure and desalination facilities in the GCC states. Desalination plants are critical for ensuring drinking water supply to millions of civilians in an arid region. They must further end unlawful attacks on commercial vessels in Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities must also immediately restore full internet access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nPresident Trump must immediately retract these dangerous threats and commit the US to upholding international humanitarian law.Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIntentionally attacking civilian infrastructure such as power plants is generally prohibited. Even in the limited cases that they qualify as military targets, a party still cannot attack power plants if this may cause disproportionate harm to civilians. Given that such power plants are essential for meeting the basic needs and livelihoods of tens of millions of civilians, attacking them would be disproportionate and thus unlawful under international humanitarian law, and could amount to a war crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBy threatening such strikes, the USA is effectively indicating its willingness to plunge an entire country into darkness, and to potentially deprive its people of their human rights to life, water, food, healthcare and adequate standard of living, and to subject them to severe pain and suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen power plants collapse, horrific consequences cascade instantly. Water pumping stations would stop functioning, clean water would become scarce, and preventable diseases would spread. Hospitals would lose electricity and fuel, forcing surgeries to be cancelled and life-support machines to shut down. Food production and distribution networks would collapse, deepening hunger and causing widespread food scarcity. Many businesses would also shut down with devastating economic consequences including mass unemployment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCausing catastrophic harm to the civilian electrical capacity \u2013 at a time when the Iranian authorities\u2019 deliberate prolonged internet shutdown has already left Iran\u2019s population isolated \u2013 would sever people\u2019s last remaining connection to the outside world, including access to satellite television, at a time of extreme danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPresident Trump must immediately retract these dangerous threats and commit the US to upholding international humanitarian law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Background<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
On 21 March, US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Islamic Republic of Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the United States would \u201cobliterate\u201d Iranian power plants, \u201cstarting with the biggest one first,\u201d if the Iranian authorities failed to comply. The Islamic Republic of Iran said it would retaliate by targeting the \u201cpower plants of the occupying regime [USA] and the power plants of regional countries that supply electricity to USA bases, as well as the economic, industrial, and energy infrastructure in which Americans hold shares\u201d if Trump follows through with his threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On 23 March, Trump stated on social media that discussions with Iranian officials had taken place aimed at de\u2011escalating hostilities across the Middle East. He added that he had ordered a five\u2011day postponement of any planned military strikes against Iranian power facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran have already caused harm to civilian essential infrastructure in GCC countries. On 8 March, Bahrain\u2019s Ministry of Interior announced that an Iranian drone had caused material damage to a water desalination plant. The vice president of Bahrain\u2019s Electricity and Water Authority told state TV that the attack did not affect water supplies or the capacity of the water network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On 19 March the International Maritime Organization<\/a>\u2019s Council condemned threats and attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. As of 24 March, the IMO<\/a> confirmed 18 incidents impacting commercial vessels in the \u201cStrait of Hormuz and the Middle East\u201d, some leading to deaths and injuries of seafarers in addition to damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As of 6 March, Iranian authorities stated<\/a> that Israeli-USA strikes had killed 1332 people. On 15 March, the Ministry of Health stated<\/a> that among those killed were 223 women and 202 children. At least 21 people have been killed across GCC states (six in Kuwait, two in Bahrain, two in Saudi Arabia, eight in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and three in Oman). According to media reports attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran have so far led to the death of 15 people in Israel. In the occupied West Bank, the Islamic Republic\u2019s attacks have killed three people.<\/p>\n