'Keep it up': Lindsey Graham cheers Trump's threat denounced by critics as war crime
President Donald Trump sent shockwaves Monday morning after issuing fresh threats to destroy Iranian infrastructure used to produce clean drinking water – which, if carried out, would likely constitute a war crime – and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was right behind the president to cheer him on.
“Just had a very good discussion with [Trump] about his recent statement regarding the consequences to Iran if they do not agree to an acceptable peace deal,” Graham wrote Monday in a social media post on X. “I support diplomatic efforts to end the conflict consistent with our military objectives, but it takes two to tango.”
Earlier this month, Trump threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants – also a potential war crime if carried out – if Tehran continued to block access to U.S.-aligned sea vessels from the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping channel. He imposed a 48-hour deadline for Iran to comply with his demand before extending his self-imposed deadline twice.
Trump ramped up those threats Monday morning after issuing a threat to destroy Iran’s desalination plants, which convert salt water to fresh, drinkable water.
The new threat shocked national security analyst David Rohde, who concluded that such a threat, if carried out, would certainly constitute a war crime. For Graham, however, Trump’s threat was not only a “necessity,” but a potential tool to secure a “historic peace deal.”
“Keep it up Mr President,” Graham wrote. “Wind down the war and wind up efforts for a historic peace deal.”
Per Article 54 of the Geneva Conventions – a series of international agreements drafted in the wake of World War II – it is prohibited under international law to "attack" or "destroy" civilian infrastructure critical to the "survival of the civilian population." Article 54 also explicitly names "drinking water installations" as being prohibited targets in warfare.
Graham is among the most hawkish members of Congress, and has been well documented for having advocated for U.S. military action against a large swath of countries, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mexico, North Korea, Syria and Venezuela, among other nations.