Trump Escalates Iran Threats: 'A Whole Civilisation Will Die Tonight'

Introduction

US President Donald Trump has intensified his threats against Iran, warning that a 'whole civilisation will die tonight' if Tehran does not meet his demands. The deadline for Iranian authorities is set for Tuesday night, and Trump has shared a social media post threatening to irreversibly obliterate Iran.

Iran is the heir to the millennia-old Persian civilisation, one of the most influential in human history. Trump's threats have been met with widespread condemnation from the international community, with legal experts labelling his plans to target civilian infrastructure as a war crime.

Democrats have called for an end to the war, with top Democrat Chuck Schumer describing Trump as an 'extremely sick person'. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has also urged Republican lawmakers to 'put patriotic duty over party and stop the madness'.

The US president has not obtained authorisation from lawmakers to launch the military campaign against Iran, which critics say is a violation of the Constitution. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked to remove Trump from office due to his unfitness to serve.

Despite the intensifying opposition to the war on the Democratic side, dissent among Republicans remains faint. Congressman Mike Lawler has downplayed Trump's threat, saying that the president would only target civilian infrastructure, which would violate international humanitarian law.

The deadline for Iran is set for Tuesday night, with the US and Israel having launched the war on February 28. The attacks have killed more than 2,000 people and hit schools, residential buildings, and medical facilities.