“George, I’ve seen what we are planning in terms of the target set. … The American people should know that every target that we strike will be a lawful target, and it will be a target designed at the singular mission of protecting and defending America. President Trump has been diligent about that. He doesn’t want war.”
— Pompeo on ABC’s This Week
Why it matters: Trump’s warning about cultural sites prompted immediate outrage from Iranian officials, who accused the president of flouting international law and threatening war crimes.
United Nations resolution 2347, which the U.S. supported in 2017, “condemns the unlawful destruction of cultural heritage,” including religious sites and artifacts.
