UN panel says racist hate speech by Trump has led to human rights abuses
IRAN denied today that it had called on the United States and Israel to cease fire as the war in the Middle East continued to spread death and destruction.
US President Donald Trump claimed on NBC News that Iran had wanted to make a deal to end the US-Israeli assault, but that he had refused to negotiate because “the terms are not good enough yet.”
He did not specify what those terms should be, but he did say that Iran must commit to abandoning its nuclear ambitions, which the two countries were already discussing in high-level talks before the US and Israel launched their surprise attack on February 28.
Iran’s response has been to launch drone and missile strikes on Israel and Persian Gulf states that host US forces or are otherwise allied with Washington, while also blocking ships from sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, halting the follow of fossil fuels and global trade.
At the weekend, Mr Trump called on Britain, France, China and other nations to help reopen the strategic waterway. He claimed today that several countries had committed to do so, but he has yet to name them.
The US president also said that his country’s forces may bomb Kharg Island, where Iran’s most important oil export facilities are located, again “just for fun,” after the US targeted military installations there on Friday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CBS News: “No, we never asked for a ceasefire and we have never asked even for negotiation. We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes.
“There are people being killed only because President Trump wants to have fun.”
In Iran, more than 1,300 people have been killed so far, according to the International Committee for the Red Cross. The Health Ministry says 223 women and 202 children are among the dead.
Meanwhile, Israel said it continued to strike Iran today as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates told residents that authorities were working to intercept incoming projectiles.
Twelve people have been killed in Israel by Iranian missiles and more have been injured, including three today.
At least 820 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry, and 850,000 have been displaced since Israel began bombing its northern neighbour again, ostensibly to combat Iran-backed Hezbollah.
In central Beirut, displaced families fixed tents battered by wind and rain today.
Fadi Younes, displaced from Beirut’s southern suburbs, told reporters that his mattresses and blankets were soaked.
“We don’t know where this will end,” he said, adding that he hoped to return home. “A person only truly feels at ease in their own home.”
In the southern suburb of Haret Hreik, there was scarcely anyone in sight when crews arrived to clear the streets of rubble.
“The important thing is that the roads remain open for hospitals and for people,” excavator driver Hachem Fadlallah said.
In just 10 days, more than 800,000 people — nearly one inf every seven residents of Lebanon — have been displaced, just over a year since the last conflict uprooted over a million Lebanese from their homes.
