“Every target that’s being reviewed, every effort that’s being made will always be conducted inside the international laws of war,” Pompeo said during a news conference at the State Department. “[I’ve] seen it, I’ve worked on this project, and I’m very confident of that.”
Following the killing of Iran’s top military commander last week in a U.S. drone strike, Trump tweeted on Saturday that his administration had already homed in on 52 Iranian sites — including some “important to … the Iranian culture” — should the Islamic Republic attack American interests.
Congressional Democrats and international leaders ranging from Iran’s foreign minister to Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain warned that such an assault would represent a violation of international conventions of warfare and constitute a war crime by the U.S. government.
Trump defended his suggestion on Sunday, remarking aboard Air Force One: “They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesn’t work that way.”
The president vented some of those same frustrations again on Tuesday from the White House, sitting alongside Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece.
“Think of it. They kill our people, they blow up our people, and then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions,” Trump said. “But I’m OK with it. It’s OK with me. I will say this. If Iran does anything that they shouldn‘t be doing, they’re going to be suffering the consequences, and very strongly.”
Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday became the first Cabinet official to break with the commander in chief on the issue, saying that the Pentagon would “follow the laws of armed conflict” in its response to Iran.
Asked on Tuesday by NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell whether he would “also push back” against the targeting of culturally significant sites, Pompeo replied indignantly.
“You’re not really wondering, Andrea. You’re not really wondering,” he said, adding that “every action we take will be consistent with the international rule of law, and the American people can rest assured that that’s the case.”
Pompeo went on to argue that it was the government of Iran‘s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, not the U.S., that has “done damage to the Persian culture,” which he described as “rich and steeped in history and intellect.”
“They’ve denied the capacity for that culture to continue,” Pompeo said, concluding: “The real risk to Persian culture does not come from the United States of America. There is no mistake about that.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday rejected Trump’s controversial proposal, as well.
“I want to associate myself with the secretary of Defense and the secretary of State with regard to the appropriateness of cultural sites being targeted,” he said. “That is not appropriate.”
Source: politico.com
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