Islamic Republic forces Iranians to form 'human shields' around power plants as Donald Trump prepares to destroy 'whole civilisation'

Iranians have started forming human chains around power plants after Donald Trump promised "a whole civilisation will die tonight".

The US President has given Iran's leaders until 1am to end its blockade of Gulf oil or see the US destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran.

Iranian state media has released photographs showing crowds gathering around some bridges and power plants in linked chains and holding up flags of the Islamic Republic.

An Iranian official had earlier called on people to stand hand in hand to say: "Attacking public infrastructure is a war crime".

As the clock ticks down, strikes on Iran intensified, hitting railway and road bridges, an airport and a petrochemical plant.

US forces attacked targets on Kharg Island, home to Iran's main oil export terminal.

Iran responded by declaring it would no longer hold back from hitting its Gulf neighbours' infrastructure and said it had carried out fresh strikes on a ship in the Gulf and a huge Saudi petrochemical complex.

More to follow...

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