Trump condemned over threat that Iran’s ‘civilisation will die’
Trump’s Apocalyptic Warning Sparks Global Criticism
As the midnight GMT deadline loomed, international leaders expressed concern over US President Donald Trump’s declaration that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran fails to reach an agreement to halt the conflict and clear the Strait of Hormuz. The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, voiced his “deep unease” over remarks implying civilian populations would face the fallout of military actions. Similarly, Pope Leo XIV called the threats “inadmissible,” highlighting their potential impact on everyday people.
Regional mediator Pakistan sought to ease tensions by requesting a two-week reprieve for negotiations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that diplomatic efforts were “advancing swiftly” and urged Iran to “open the Strait of Hormuz for a two-week period as a gesture of goodwill.” The White House confirmed it had received the proposal but noted a response would follow.
Escalating Strikes and Iranian Retaliation
Earlier, the US and Israel had intensified attacks on Iranian military sites, targeting the Kharg Island oil terminal and eight bridges. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards retaliated by launching ballistic missiles toward Israel and claimed to have damaged a Saudi petrochemical complex. Iranian officials reported casualties, including two deaths at a bridge in Kashan and 18 fatalities in Alborz province.
“A whole civilization 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, warning that his administration could obliterate all bridges and power plants in Iran within four hours if no deal was reached. The vice-president, JD Vance, hinted at additional options but clarified the White House had “not yet deployed nuclear weapons” as a tool.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that aircraft had struck railway infrastructure, claiming the targets were used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps to move supplies. Iranian state media reported the Rafie-Nia synagogue in Tehran was destroyed during the strikes, with the Israeli military expressing regret over the “collateral damage” and stating it aimed to eliminate a high-ranking Iranian commander.
Iranian Mobilization and Resolve
Iranian authorities encouraged citizens to form human chains near critical infrastructure, as captured in state media images. President Masoud Pezeshkian highlighted public commitment, noting over 14 million Iranians had “signed up to defend the nation” through sacrifice. The Revolutionary Guards vowed to strike beyond the region if “red lines” were crossed, threatening to disrupt oil and gas supplies for years by targeting key facilities.
