President Trump’s aggressive rhetoric has escalated, with his latest threats targeting not only the Islamic regime but the entire Iranian populace and its ancient cultural legacy.
“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” threatened President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post on the morning of April 7, as the deadline approaches for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 pm. The United States reportedly struck several military locations on Kharg Island, Iran’s vital oil export terminal, earlier today.
The Iranian Red Crescent reported that U.S. and Israeli forces also attacked 17 civilian sites in the region. On April 5, Trump explicitly threatened to target Iran’s infrastructure including bridges and power plants if the Strait remained closed.
“If this is not genocidal intent — an open threat of annihilation — then I don’t know what is,” Iranian author Sahar Delijani commented on Instagram. Delijani noted that due to a prolonged internet blackout, many Iranians are unaware of the threats and unable to seek safety.
The impact of U.S. and Israeli strikes has already extended to about 50 culturally significant sites, such as Tehran’s Golestan Palace. According to Iranian state media, the Rafi Niya synagogue was damaged in a nearby attack. Additionally, educational institutions have suffered, including the bombing of Sharif University of Technology and damage to research centers.
While the U.S. and Israel cite connections to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, international law prohibits attacks on dual-use sites if civilian harm is expected. Global experts have labeled these strikes potential war crimes. Iran’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Salehi Amiri Reza, called the destruction a “deliberate and conscious attack” on Iranian identity.
