Matt Canavan condemns Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s ‘civilisation’

Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s “whole civilisation” has been condemned by Nationals leader Matt Canavan, who warned the US leader’s rhetoric had escalated beyond acceptable bounds.

The US President has previously threatened to target Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including energy, water and power plants, in a move critics have deemed illegal under international law, should Tehran refuse to strike a deal with the US by 10am AEST.

Overnight, Mr Trump took to Truth Social and wrote: “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”

“However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?” he wrote.

“We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World.

“47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!”

But Senator Canavan told Nine’s Today the comments were unacceptable, especially from one of Australia’s allies.

“ … This kind of rhetoric has no place. And look, the US is a great friend and ally, but as a friend and ally, I think we need to tell him straight here, that this is not the kind of way we should conduct ourselves in these kinds of conflicts,” he said.

He reiterated Australia wanted to see Iran’s nuclear capability destroyed but that Mr Trump’s comments, in the context of these objectives, were still a “step too far”.

“We, of course, want to see the nuclear materials in Iran destroyed. We want to see them unable to threaten peaceful countries in that region, including our friends.

“But this is a step too far, and I think most reasonable people can see that.”

More to come.