President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE said Tuesday that he wants to obey the law when asked whether he would target Iranian cultural sites, which legal experts have said would likely amount to a violation of international law.

“If that’s what the law is, I like to obey the law. But think of it. They kill our people. They blow up our people and then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions. But I’m OK with it. It’s OK with me,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting Tuesday with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Trump’s remarks seemed to back off a threat he issued over the weekend.

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The president went on to threaten a “strong” response to Iran if Tehran chooses to retaliate harshly for the U.S. strike against a top Iranian general, though he didn’t expand on what his administration was considering.

“If Iran does anything they shouldn’t be doing, they’re going to be suffering the consequences and very strongly,” Trump told reporters.

Trump made the remarks days after tweeting that his administration would target Iranian cultural sites should Tehran choose to strike American assets or individuals in retaliation for a U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani last Thursday.

Trump’s advisers have since insisted that the U.S. will act consistent with the law, while legal experts and others have said that targeting cultural sites would likely be a violation of international rules.

Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Loeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Quinnipiac poll shows Graham, Harrison tied in South Carolina Senate race MORE (R-S.C.), a close ally of Trump's in Congress, said that he raised concerns about Trump’s remarks in a phone call with him, adding that he believed targeting cultural sites would “undercut” what the U.S. is doing in the Middle East.

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Defense Secretary Mark Esper Mark EsperOvernight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Oldest living US World War II veteran turns 111 Overnight Defense: US marks 19th anniversary of 9/11 attacks | Trump awards Medal of Honor to Army Ranger for hostage rescue mission | Bahrain, Israel normalizing diplomatic ties MORE told reporters Monday that the U.S. military would “follow the laws of armed conflict” when asked if the Pentagon was prepared to strike Iranian cultural sites — a strong suggestion it would not despite the president’s prior comments.

Asked at a briefing earlier Tuesday afternoon whether he would resign if given an order that would violate international law, Esper said he wouldn’t engage in hypotheticals before adding, "I'm fully confident the commander in chief would not give us an illegal order."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep Trump's foreign policy successes confound his detractors It's time for a Jackson-Vanik Amendment for China MORE also engaged in a testy exchange with NBC anchor Andrea Mitchell at a briefing Tuesday morning when she asked about whether he would push back on Trump’s statements.

“I was unambiguous on Sunday,” Pompeo said. “It is completely consistent with what the president has said, every action we take will be consistent with international law and the American people can rest assured that that’s the case.”

Trump’s remarks about targeting cultural sites, made in a string of tweets late Saturday, prompted criticism over the weekend and accusations the president was threatening war crimes.

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Trump appeared to double down Sunday evening in remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One.

“They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural site?” Trump said while traveling back to Washington from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. “It doesn’t work that way.”

Trump echoed those complaints on Tuesday, before saying he wanted U.S. actions to be lawful.

“They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to maim our people. They’re allowed to blow up everything that we have and there’s nothing that stops them. And we are, according to various laws, supposed to be very careful with their cultural heritage,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.