Gulf nations have quietly renewed their objections to the Trump administration regarding the possible targeting of Iranian water treatment facilities, warning that such strikes could constitute war crimes and provoke retaliatory attacks on their own critical infrastructure.
According to four regional sources, the concerns were reiterated after President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that the scope of U.S. military action against Iran might expand to include water treatment plants. These facilities are protected under international humanitarian law, which categorizes civilian infrastructure essential to survival—including drinking water systems—as illegal military targets.
The Gulf states are particularly vulnerable. Many rely on desalination plants for the majority of their drinking water due to a scarcity of natural freshwater sources. A regional official noted that any strike on such facilities—whether by U.S. forces or in retaliation by Iran—could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.
Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, emphasized that desalination plants are unequivocally civilian in nature, leaving no legal justification for an attack. He added that officials advising the president bear responsibility for rejecting any unlawful orders.
Iran derives only a small portion of its water from desalination. In contrast, countries such as Qatar and Bahrain depend on the technology for more than half of their potable water supply. If Iran retaliated against a U.S. strike by targeting similar infrastructure in a neighboring state, the consequences could be severe.
Despite these risks, none of the affected nations have publicly rebuked the president. Some are focused on defending against ongoing Iranian attacks and lack the capacity to confront additional threats. Others are engaged in behind-the-scenes efforts to mediate U.S.-Iran negotiations and fear that public criticism could undermine their role as facilitators.
Legal experts caution that silence in response to threats of illegal action is a dangerous approach. Roth warned that failing to openly oppose lawlessness in hopes of mitigating it through indirect means is unrealistic, adding that the absence of vocal opposition may embolden further violations.
On Tuesday, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded to questions about the potential targeting of desalination plants by stating that the U.S. military only strikes lawful targets in accordance with standard procedures. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also affirmed that the administration would act within the bounds of the law while continuing to pursue its operational objectives.
Just days before the president’s social media post, foreign ministers from the Group of Seven issued a joint statement calling for an immediate end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the statement on behalf of the United States.
The threat against water infrastructure is the latest in a series of warnings from the president. In recent weeks, Trump also threatened to destroy Iranian power plants if Tehran did not agree to a diplomatic deal—an action that legal experts said would similarly violate international law. Gulf allies voiced their concerns privately at that time as well.
Andrew Friedman, director of the Human Rights Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that threatening actions that may constitute war crimes undermines alliance cohesion, as partners are reluctant to be associated with unlawful acts.
Earlier this week, an Indian worker was killed in an Iranian strike on a power and water desalination facility in Kuwait, according to Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water. While the conflict has not yet escalated to the point where water infrastructure has become a widespread target, Iran has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to retaliate against attacks on its infrastructure.
In early March, Tehran accused the United States of striking a desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, warned of retaliation, though a U.S. defense official denied involvement. The cause of the disruption at the facility remains unclear.
Whether water infrastructure will become a central target in the ongoing conflict remains an open question.