Amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran following the drone strike of a senior official, Trump threatened to destroy a variety of targets including “some at a very high level & important to Iran & Iranian culture.” The deliberate destruction of cultural sites constitutes a war crime. The Pentagon immediately contradicted Trump by ruling out any such targets.

The threat is in line with similar rhetoric that Trump has employed before, such as the need to target the families of terrorists or reinstate torture techniques.

BBC News – Trump says US ready to strike 52 Iranian sites if Tehran attacks
The New York Times – Pentagon Rules Out Striking Iranian Cultural Sites, Contradicting Trump