U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post this morning that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” as his threatened attacks on Iranian infrastructure loom ahead of an 8 p.m. ET deadline.
Iran has rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal and says it wants a permanent end to the war.
UN Secretary General António Guterres warned the U.S. that attacking civilian infrastructure is banned under international law.
The death toll so far includes more than 1,900 people in Iran, 1,400 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, about two dozen in other countries in the region, 13 U.S. service members and 11 Israeli soldiers.
The TruthSocial Post:
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116363336033995961
Trump’s phrase about a whole civilization dying tonight is apocalyptic rhetoric even by his standards. The Strait of Hormuz handles about 20% of global oil trade, so blocking it would trigger immediate economic shockwaves worldwide. Diplomatic channels need to stay open regardless of the posturing.