Donald Trump escalated rhetoric regarding Iran, warning that a 'whole civilisation will die tonight' if a deal was not reached concerning the vital Strait of Hormuz. The threat is linked to US geopolitical tensions and a potential conflict in the region.

The president who yearned for a Nobel Peace Prize and once revelled in the appearance of solving conflicts turned to the language of annihilation as he struggled to find a resolution to his war of choice in Iran. US President Donald Trump’s latest threat over the Iran war hit a new extreme on Tuesday as he warned “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again”, if Iran failed to make a deal that included reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz. The Republican president’s...