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President Donald Trump’s threat against Iran on Tuesday sparked reactions from two Iranian athletes.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “An entire civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back” in reference to Iran, amid its threats to target the country’s power plants and bridges.
Former Iranian youth wrestling champion Sardar Pashaei, who now lives in the United States, responded to Trump’s threat in a statement to PK Press Club Digital.
“The Iranian regime still has a chance – and all means necessary – to stop sacrificing its own people and end this 47-year catastrophe. He has had many opportunities in the past. Instead, he chose repression at home and conflict abroad.
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“For decades, he destroyed Iran’s natural resources, built tunnels deep into the mountains for missiles, and spent the country’s wealth on drones and war, not on the well-being of its people. Above all, we must be clear: the Iranian people must never be the target of pressure or punishment. He has already suffered for decades under this regime.
“The responsibility for this crisis lies with the religious establishment and the IRGC. For decades, the slogans “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” were pushed by the regime, not the Iranian people, who instead sought dignity, opportunity and a normal life, but were never given a real choice through free and fair elections.
Trump reveals Iran made ‘important proposal’ after ultimatum, but ‘not good enough’
Iranian competitive climber Elnaz Rakabi, who won bronze at the 2021 IFSC Climbing World Championship, shared a different view in a statement provided to PK Press Club Digital.
“As an Iranian athlete, I cannot remain silent when language is used that speaks of the destruction of a nation as if millions of innocent lives were disposable. Any statement suggesting the collapse or destruction of Iran without recognizing the human cost is profoundly dangerous. Iran is not just a regime. Iran is a people, a history, a civilization and millions of human beings who have already endured decades of repression, fear and suffering,” Rakabi said.
“At the same time, the world must not ignore the truth that the Islamic Republic has spent decades oppressing its own people, crushing peaceful protests, and investing the country’s wealth in ideology, militarization, and nuclear ambition instead of the well-being of its citizens.
“The Iranian people have repeatedly taken to the streets to demand freedom, dignity, justice and the right to live a normal life, but have been met with bullets, prisons, executions and fear. The Iranian people do not demand violence. He is not asking for war. He asks to be heard. He demands that his country’s resources be devoted to life and not destruction.
“That is why the destruction of a nation can never be the solution. The Iranian people are not collateral damage. They are not a bargaining chip in political rhetoric or in international conflicts. They are human beings. Peaceful and democratic change in Iran would serve not only the Iranian people, but also the cause of human rights, regional stability and world peace. So I ask: is it really so difficult for those in power to choose peace over ideology, dignity human rights rather than political interest and innocent lives in a new cycle of violence?
Trump has given Iran until 8 p.m. ET Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its power plants and bridges. Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations responded, rejecting a proposed temporary ceasefire and promising “reciprocal measures.”
“Iran will not stand idly by in the face of such egregious war crimes,” Iravani said. “He will without hesitation exercise his inherent right of self-defense and take immediate and proportionate reciprocal action.”
Iran has reportedly threatened to target energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
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Tehran will add Saudi Aramco’s oil facilities, as well as Yanbu and the United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah oil pipeline, to its list of targets if Trump follows through on his threats to attack Iran’s energy infrastructure, Iran International reported.
The threats from Iran were first reported by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency, citing a military source.
