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

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

Global leaders, including the UN Secretary-General and Pope Leo XIV, have criticized US President Donald Trump’s warning that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” unless Iran agrees to a deal ending the conflict and clearing the Strait of Hormuz. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over statements implying civilian populations would suffer from political and military actions. The Pope described the threats as “unacceptable,” emphasizing their impact on ordinary people.

With the midnight deadline approaching, Pakistan, acting as a regional mediator, sought a two-week extension to allow further diplomacy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on X that “diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future.” He urged Iran to “open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture.” The White House confirmed Trump had been informed of the proposal but awaited a response.

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

Trump’s apocalyptic warning aimed to pressure Iran into reopening the strategic waterway, which handles about 20% of global oil and gas shipments. He added that “now that we have complete and total regime change, where different, smarter, and less radicalised minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, who knows? We will find out tonight.” The US military could destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran within four hours if the deadline expired without a deal.

Earlier, the US and Israel launched strikes across Iran, targeting military sites on Kharg Island’s oil terminal and eight railway bridges. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards retaliated by launching ballistic missiles toward Israel and claimed to have hit a Gulf ship and a Saudi petrochemical complex. Iranian authorities encouraged citizens to form human chains near US and Israeli targets, as seen in images shared by state media.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli jets had attacked railway tracks and bridges in Iran, alleging they were used by the IRGC to move weapons and materials. Iranian officials reported casualties, including two deaths from a bridge strike in Kashan and 18 fatalities in Alborz province. A synagogue in Rafie-Nia was also destroyed, though Israel apologized for the “collateral damage,” claiming the target was a senior Iranian military commander.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian noted that over 14 million citizens had “registered to sacrifice their lives to defend Iran.” The IRGC vowed to strike beyond the region if “the American terrorist army crosses the red lines,” threatening to disrupt US and allied access to oil and gas for years. The standoff highlights escalating tensions in the Middle East, with both sides pushing for decisive action.