“Deadline” approaching: the Pentagon is reportedly seeking to strike Iran’s military and civilian dual-use energy facilities

People’s Finance News, April 7 — As U.S. President Trump’s threats to Iran—so-called “final ultimatum”—are set to expire, the Pentagon was reported on April 6 to be drawing up a list of strike targets that would include Iran’s dual-use energy facilities. According to reports from the U.S. side on April 6, Iran still firmly controls access rights to the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy shipping chokepoint, and based on public statements, Iran continues to refuse to give way to U.S. demands, leaving the White House increasingly frustrated. As the fighting drags on, the number of Iran’s strategic targets the U.S. can strike keeps shrinking, and the U.S. government is weighing whether and how to expand the scope of strikes, including infrastructure related to Iranian civilian life. Reports say that if Trump sends ground forces into Iran, it could cause this war—which is already unpopular among the American public—to continue further. If Trump chooses to attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure, it would clearly violate international law and could invite charges of war crimes. To avoid this outcome, the U.S. intends to emulate Israel by targeting Iran’s dual-use facilities for both military and civilian purposes. Two anonymous U.S. Department of Defense officials said that Iran’s energy facilities that provide fuel and electricity for both civilians and the military could be classified as “lawful” strike targets. Another anonymous U.S. official said that inside the Pentagon there is extensive debate over how to distinguish between military and civilian strike targets—for example, whether a dual-use seawater desalination plant can be designated as a strike target. (CCTV News)