UN human rights chief condemns US threats to annihilate "a whole civilisation"

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GENEVA — The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, on Tuesday condemned the rhetoric threatening to annihilate "a whole civilisation."

In a statement, Turk condemned the latest threats of US President Donald Trump to annihilate "a whole civilisation" and to target civilian infrastructure in Iran, calling such rhetoric "sickening" and warning that carrying through on such threats would amount to "the most serious international crimes."

"Threats that spread fear and terror among civilians are unacceptable and must cease immediately," he said, adding that under international law, deliberately attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure constitutes "a war crime."

"I call on the international community to take urgent steps to de-escalate the situation and to help protect the lives of all civilians," he said.

On Tuesday morning, Trump threatened that Iran's "whole civilisation will die tonight," a deadline he set for Iran to make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, signalling a possible sharp escalation of the US-Israeli war with Iran.