Trump condemned over threat that Iran’s ‘civilisation will die’

Trump Condemned Over Threat That Iran’s ‘Civilisation Will Die’

International leaders, including the UN Secretary-General and the Pope, have criticized US President Donald Trump for his apocalyptic warning against Iran. António Guterres expressed concern over statements implying civilian populations would suffer due to political and military actions. Pope Leo XIV called the threats “unacceptable.” As the midnight GMT deadline approached, mediator Pakistan urged a two-week delay to facilitate more diplomatic talks.

Trump had earlier warned Iran that failure to reach an agreement would result in the destruction of bridges and power plants. Iranian authorities encouraged citizens to form human chains near US and Israeli targets. The escalation followed intensified strikes by the US and Israel on Tuesday, targeting military sites at Kharg Island’s oil terminal and eight railway bridges. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards retaliated with ballistic missiles toward Israel, claiming to hit a vessel in the Gulf and a Saudi petrochemical complex.

“A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Regional mediator Pakistan proposed extending the deadline to “allow diplomacy to run its course.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that diplomatic efforts in the Middle East were gaining momentum, urging Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as a goodwill gesture. The White House confirmed Trump had received the proposal but withheld a response. Trump’s threat aimed to pressure Iran into reopening the critical waterway, which handles 20% of global oil and gas shipments.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Israeli jets targeted railway tracks and bridges in Iran, accusing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of using them for military logistics. Iranian officials reported casualties, including two deaths from a bridge strike in Kashan and 18 fatalities in Alborz province. The Rafie-Nia synagogue in Tehran was also destroyed, though Israel apologized for the “collateral damage,” stating the target was a high-ranking commander.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed over 14 million citizens were willing to sacrifice their lives for the nation. Images from state media showed citizens forming human chains at infrastructure sites. The IRGC vowed to retaliate beyond the region if the US crossed “red lines,” threatening to disrupt oil and gas supplies for years. The military force emphasized its readiness to strike key facilities to cripple US and allied interests.