No military objective justifies destruction of a society’s infrastructure, UN chief says

United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres is “deeply troubled” by the statement suggesting that an entire people or civilisation may bear “the consequences of political and military decisions”, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Guterres's comment comes after Trump’s warning to Iran earlier on Tuesday that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t opened.

“There is no military objective that justifies the wholesale destruction of a society’s infrastructure or the deliberate infliction of suffering on civilian populations,” Guterres’ spokesman said.

The secretary general reiterates that leaders can still choose “dialogue over destruction” and the choice for talks must be made now, Dujarric said.

Guterres also called for stepped-up diplomacy to find a path to peace and appealed for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the spokesman said.