UN human rights chief condemns U.S. threats to annihilate "a whole civilization"

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk speaks during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 16, 2025.  (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

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

In a statement, Turk condemned the latest threats of U.S. President Donald Trump to annihilate "a whole civilization" 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 civilization will die tonight," a deadline he set for Iran to make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a possible sharp escalation of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.