Former President Donald Trump’s recent suggestion of expanding potential military action against Iran to include strikes on water treatment plants has raised significant alarm among some Gulf countries. According to four regional sources, these nations have privately reiterated their grave concerns to the Trump administration regarding attacks on civilian infrastructure and the risk of escalating tensions.

Concerns Over Civilian Infrastructure

Civilian infrastructure sites, such as water plants, are explicitly protected under international law. However, Iran has retaliated against US allies in the Gulf region following US and Israeli strikes, and many of these nations heavily rely on desalination for their water supply due to limited freshwater resources.

Potential for Devastating Consequences

“It will be a huge catastrophe if they strike, we rely on desalination for almost all drinking water,” one regional official stated, emphasizing that these concerns have been previously communicated to Trump administration officials and were again raised after Trump’s post on his Truth Social platform on Monday.

While several countries have privately warned the Trump administration against such attacks, they have refrained from publicly criticizing the former president. Targeting critical civilian infrastructure, including water and potentially power plants, could be considered a war crime according to the Geneva Conventions.

International Law and Expert Opinions

The Geneva Conventions and its protocols specifically prohibit attacks on objects indispensable to civilian survival, including “drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation work.” Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, asserted, “Desalination plants are purely civilian infrastructure. There is no legal argument whatsoever for attacking them,” and emphasized the responsibility of Trump’s advisors to prevent any illegal orders.

While Iran’s reliance on desalination is limited, countries like Qatar and Bahrain depend on the technology for over half of their drinking water. Some Gulf nations, however, are preoccupied with defending against ongoing Iranian attacks and lack the capacity to oppose potential strikes.

Hesitancy to Condemn

Others are hesitant to publicly rebuke the administration, fearing it could undermine ongoing efforts to broker US-Iran negotiations. Experts warn that this silence is a dangerous approach. Roth stated, “Being quiet in the face of lawlessness…is just naive. Trump will take anything he can get if there’s not an outpouring of opposition to it.”

Official Responses and Previous Threats

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine affirmed that the US military always “strikes lawful targets in accordance with normal procedures.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the administration will adhere to the law while pursuing its objectives.

This threat follows a recent joint statement by G7 foreign ministers, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling for an end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Trump has previously threatened to “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants, a move also considered a potential violation of international law, prompting similar private concerns from Gulf allies.

Regional Impact and Recent Incidents

Striking Iranian desalination plants is unlikely to garner more allied support. Andrew Friedman, a director at the Human Rights Initiative, noted, “If you threaten to do something that either could be or is a war crime, it frightens allies.” Earlier this week, an Indian worker was killed in an Iranian attack on a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait.

Iran has accused the US of attacking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island in early March, warning of retaliation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that attacking Iran’s infrastructure would have “grave consequences.”