Amnesty International's Erika Guevara-Rosas assessed the threatened attacks as potentially disproportionate and unlawful because of their civilian effects. Civilian infrastructure is generally protected, and even a military objective remains subject to proportionality limits.

Amnesty International reported that on March 21, 2026 Trump gave Iran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or the United States would obliterate its power plants, starting with the largest. On March 23 he announced a five-day postponement.