UN official reacts to Trump's threats against Iran's civilian infrastructures

TABNAK, Apr. 21 - Stephnne Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, has reacted to US President Donald Trump’s new threats to strike Iranian civilian infrastructure, saying that no military goal justifies such attacks and the infliction of pain on a civilian population.

News ID: 7344

Date: 21 April 2026 - 12:13

“There is no military objective that justifies the wholesale destruction of civilian infrastructure or the deliberate infliction of pain on a civilian population,” Dujarric told reporters on Monday, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

He made the remark as Trump has renewed his threats to bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran does not accept his proposed deal to end the war.

On the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the UN spokesperson said that there has been “a lot of activity” and “a lot of confusion”, adding that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is concerned by maritime incidents over the last 48 hours.

According to Dujarric, the UN chief also emphasized freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which he said should be respected by all parties.

The United States and Israel launched their war of aggression against Iran on February 28. Iran, acting in self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, carried out missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli positions and US bases in West Asia.

The Persian Gulf country has also maintained control over the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the security of the vital waterway through which nearly 20% of the world’s energy supply is transmitted. Under Iranian control, ships belonging to adversaries and the countries assisting them were denied passage through the strait.

On April 17, Iran announced that the key waterway would be open to “all commercial vessels” as part of a two-week ceasefire that took effect with Washington on April 8. However, within hours of the announcement, Iran restored restrictions in response to the naval blockade the US imposed on the country despite the truce.

On Monday, the US military also seized a commercial Iranian vessel, Touska, claiming that it had breached the blockade.