Geneva: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday called for an immediate halt to attacks on essential infrastructure in the Middle East, cautioning that the conflict risks “irreversible consequences,” including potential damage to nuclear facilities.

“What we have seen in recent days in the Middle East risks reaching a point of no return,” ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement.

“Most alarming is the potential harm to nuclear facilities, whether deliberate or incidental,” she added.

The warning comes amid repeated strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure since the outbreak of war on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. In retaliation, Tehran has targeted locations in Israel and Gulf nations.

Over the weekend, an Iranian strike hit the southern Israeli town of Dimona, home to a nuclear facility. Tehran described it as a response to an earlier attack on its Natanz nuclear site.

“Damage to these sites could trigger irreversible consequences, which is why they are afforded heightened protections under the rules of war,” Spoljaric said.

The ICRC chief stressed that targeting essential infrastructure is tantamount to targeting civilians.

“War on essential infrastructure is war on civilians,” she said. “Deliberate attacks on essential services and civilian infrastructure can amount to war crimes.”

Her statement followed US President Donald Trump’s abrupt reversal of his threat to “obliterate” Iran’s power infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed. Initially, Iran had responded by threatening to deploy naval mines and target regional power plants.

Trump said Monday he was pausing his ultimatum after “very good” talks with unidentified Iranian officials. Iranian media, however, cited the Tehran foreign ministry denying any negotiations and suggesting Trump’s move was aimed at lowering energy prices.

“Attacks on essential infrastructure have already punished millions of civilians both near and far from the front lines,” Spoljaric said.

“This pattern, combined with an escalatory rhetoric that disregards the limits imposed by international humanitarian law, normalises a style of warfare that strips away our shared humanity.”