• More than 100 U.S. legal experts condemn strikes on Iran as violations of international law.
• The letter cites potential war crimes due to attacks on civilian infrastructure.
• Experts express concerns over U.S. military conduct and threats by President Trump.
• The U.S.-Israeli campaign began on February 28 without UN authorization.
• Rhetoric from U.S. officials raises alarms about respect for international humanitarian laws.

Over 100 U.S.-based legal experts have signed an open letter declaring that military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel may constitute war crimes. The letter was published on April 2, 2026, emphasizing the strikes represent a violation of international law, particularly the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against another state without proper authorization or self-defense claims. The experts voiced serious concerns over the legality of the strikes due to their initiation without UN Security Council approval and the lack of an imminent threat from Iran, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The letter draws attention to the impact of U.S. military actions, particularly highlighting a strike on a primary school in Minab, Iran, which resulted in the deaths of at least 175 individuals, mostly children. The experts noted that strikes against civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, pose serious concerns regarding international humanitarian law. The U.S. military reportedly elevated investigations regarding these strikes, reinforcing the letter's call for accountability, as documented by Middle East Eye.

In their letter, the scholars expressed alarm over increasingly aggressive rhetoric from senior U.S. officials, including President Trump, who suggested that the U.S. might strike Iranian infrastructure "just for fun." Such statements have been criticized for displaying a profound disregard for established rules of war and international law. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth's comments that the U.S. would ignore "stupid rules of engagement" have also been flagged as particularly concerning, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Middle East Eye.

The experts warned that continual military actions could lead to increasing humanitarian crises in the region, severely affecting civilians and escalating the conflict further. In contexts where strikes are made on civilian targets or infrastructure without lawful justification, there are inherent risks of committing war crimes. The letter calls for adherence to the UN Charter and respective humanitarian laws and emphasizes the need for U.S. officials to publicly affirm their commitment to these principles, as reiterated across Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Middle East Eye.