Iran's UN Representative Criticizes Trump's Remarks as "Shocking"; Iranians Form Human Chain to Protect Power Plants
Iran – Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations condemned on Tuesday President Trump’s threat to destroy “the entire Iranian civilization” as “extremely irresponsible,” accusing the U.S. president of intending to commit “war crimes.” The Pope described threats directed at all Iranians as “unacceptable.”
Amir Saeid Iravani said in a statement to the UN Security Council: “Today, the remarks made by the U.S. president are not only extremely irresponsible, but also shocking.”
He added: “It is regrettable that, in full view of the international community, the U.S. president brazenly threatened to destroy all of Iran’s infrastructure—including bridges, power plants, and energy facilities—and issued an ultimatum, openly revealing his intent to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern on Tuesday regarding Trump’s recent statements about Iran, particularly his threat to “eliminate an entire civilization.” His spokesperson stated: “The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the remarks we heard yesterday and this morning… These statements suggest that entire nations or civilizations could suffer the consequences of political and military decisions.”
He continued: “No military objective can justify the large-scale destruction of a society’s infrastructure or the deliberate infliction of such immense suffering on civilians.”
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Iran – Images released by Iranian state media show that, following U.S. President Trump’s threats to strike energy infrastructure, Iranians formed human chains on Tuesday to protect power plants. On the 39th day of the Middle East war triggered by a joint Israeli-U.S. attack on Iran, senior Iranian officials also declared they were ready to make sacrifices.
After extensive promotion via online platforms and text messages, authorities claimed over 14 million people had registered for the human chain initiative. While it remains unverified whether this number is accurate, initial images indicate dozens of people gathered at multiple locations.
Photos released by Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, show people forming a human chain in the southern city of Bushehr, where Iran’s sole nuclear power plant is located, to “support the power plant.” Images from state television and Mehr News Agency depict dozens gathering outside major power plants in the northern city of Tabriz and another in the northeastern city of Mashhad.
Mehr News Agency reported that residents in Ahvaz, a southwestern city, gathered on a main bridge spanning a river, as U.S.-Israeli airstrikes targeted such infrastructure. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, has been seen by some as the de facto leader of Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the start of the conflict. He shared what appears to be a screenshot of the human chain registration system, stating he had signed up himself and wrote: “Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is ready to sacrifice his life for Iran at any moment.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also posted on X: “So far, over 14 million proud Iranians have registered, ready to give their lives to defend Iran. I have always been, and will remain, ready to give my life for Iran.”
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to “destroy a civilization,” after demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz—critical to global oil supply—by 8 p.m. Washington time (midnight GMT).
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1861855411754051/
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