Iranians have been trooping to streets of Tehran to show solidarity with the country amid the threat of President Donald Trump to “wipe out a civilisation”.
“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump had threatened on his Truth Social platform.
Videos seen by Daily Trust show people gathering at bridges and power plants to make a human chain to defend the infrastructure, which US forces are considering as targets.
Trump has said the US military could bomb Iran’s bridges, power plants and other civilian infrastructure into the “stone age.”
He had announced a deadline of midnight GMT Tuesday for Iran to end its de facto closing of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow, strategic waterway used to transport oil and other commodities.
But Iran has rejected US pressure, with state media reporting that the authorities are insisting that instead of just a cease-fire it wants a full end to the war.
In a statement, Iran Revolutionary Guard warned that: “Self-restraint is over. Our response will now be carried out without any consideration, depriving the U.S. and its allies of oil and gas for years. If the U.S. Army crosses red lines, our response will exceed the region’s boundaries.”
Meanwhile, Pope Leo has said threats directed at Iran’s population are “unacceptable”.
The Pope, who is American, has increasingly voiced criticism of the Iran war.
Speaking to reporters as he left the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome, he referenced a threat earlier today against the Iranian people, calling it “truly unacceptable”.
He also urged people around the globe to contact their political representatives and press for an end to the conflict.
Pakistan has made efforts to prevent a total breakdown of the crisis.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says diplomatic efforts “progressing steadily”, while asking Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks and for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.
Neither the US nor Iran have issued an official response, less than four hours before the deadline is due to expire, but both sides have reportedly confirmed receipt of the proposal.
Citing sources, Reuters quoted an unnamed senior Iranian official as saying Tehran is positively reviewing the proposal.
Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told Axios that Trump “has been made been aware of the proposal, and a response will come”.