The US administration “intends to sacrifice whatever remains of international humanitarian law and the foundations of human ethics and civilisation to its insatiable appetite for war and slaughter”, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman says, Al Jazeera reports

He has claimed that Washington follows “a policy that calls for the destruction of bridges and power plants, which is manifestly unlawful and criminal”.

“It constitutes reprisal and collective punishment — both of which are explicitly prohibited as war crimes under international humanitarian law,” the Iranian official has added.

He has urged military personnel to refuse unlawful orders and said Iran would stand firmly “against lawlessness”.