Iranian Foreign Minister says targeting cultural sites will be war crime

In a sharp response to US President Donald Trump’s threat to attack 52 sites in Iran, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that targeting the country's cultural sites will be a "war crime". Terming the death of General Qassem Soleimani as “cowardly assassination”, Zarif said that the US has once again committed to violating the fundamental principle of international law.

Iran’s Foreign Minister claimed that the latest action of Washington in Iran is the beginning of the end of US presence in the Middle East. Zarif lashed out at US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Donald Trump saying they should not even bother to refer law dictionary.

Read: Protests Erupt Across US To Condemn US President Trump-directed Action In Iran And Iraq

Earlier, Trump had threatened Iran saying the US has identified 52 sites and will hit it harder if Tehran tries to carry out an attack on any American or its military base. Democrat leader Ilhan Omar lashed out at Trump’s statement and said that the US President is threatening, on Twitter, to commit war crimes. “God help us all!” tweeted Omar.

Terror advisory issued

US Homeland Security updated its terror advisory saying an attack may come with little or no warning, adding that Iran and its partners have demonstrated the intent and capability to conduct operations in the United States. However, it maintained that it does not have information indicating a specific, credible threat to the Homeland.

Read: Trump Steps Up Warning To Tehran; Says US Ready To Strike 52 Iranian Sites If Tehran Retaliates

Chad Wolf, the Acting Secretary of US Homeland Security, pointed at the threats publicly stated by Iranian leadership and affiliated extremist organizations. Wolf said that Iran prefers terrorist activities to retaliate and it has targeted United States interests through its partners like Hezbollah. Wolf also feared that “homegrown violent extremists” could launch individual attacks amid heightened tensions.

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