The South African Communist Party (SACP) has issued a scathing condemnation of US President Donald Trump, accusing him of openly threatening war crimes against Iran, even as last-minute diplomatic efforts appear to have secured a fragile ceasefire in the escalating Middle East conflict.
SACP national spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana said Trump’s threat to target civilian infrastructure amounts to a “commitment to war crimes”, describing the US stance as part of an “ongoing illegal and unprovoked war against Iran.”
“This pronouncement is unprecedented in its blatant disregard for international law and the rules of engagement,” Mandlana said, warning that targeting critical infrastructure such as energy facilities, bridges and water systems would have devastating consequences for civilians.
He argued that the threat reflects a pattern of US conduct over decades, citing conflicts in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan as evidence of repeated violations of international law. The latest stance, he said, “reveals a US regime that has transgressed all boundaries in its pursuit of greater power and the annihilation of Iran.”
Mandlana also linked the developments to the broader regional conflict, accusing Israel of acting as a “co-conspirator” and condemning what he called the “ongoing genocide in Palestine by apartheid Israel, which is supported and protected by the US government.”
“We unequivocally condemn these threats from the US and its president as a public affirmation of war crimes,” he said, calling on the international community to intervene and halt what the party described as an “imperialist alliance” targeting both Iran and Palestine.
As tensions peaked, however, diplomatic channels appeared to reopen, offering a narrow window to avert further escalation.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad will host talks between the United States and Iran later this week following the announcement of a temporary ceasefire.
“I... extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes,” Sharif said.
The two sides agreed to a two-week ceasefire shortly before a deadline set by Trump for potential large-scale strikes on Iran, a move that had raised alarm among legal experts who warned that targeting civilian infrastructure could violate international law.
The conflict was triggered by joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February that reportedly killed the country’s supreme leader, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran on Gulf states and Israel. The violence has since spread, drawing in Lebanon after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched attacks, followed by Israeli airstrikes and ground operations.
Sharif said the ceasefire was intended to apply across the region, though Israel has indicated that its operations in Lebanon would continue, underscoring the fragility of the agreement.
Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary in the crisis, leveraging its ties with both Washington and Tehran, alongside support from regional and global players including Saudi Arabia, China, Turkey and Egypt. Officials have expressed cautious optimism that the upcoming “Islamabad Talks” could pave the way for a more lasting settlement.
The Star
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