Brazilian President Strongly Criticises US: Trump Has No Right to Threaten Other Countries
US President Donald Trump has threatened that Iran’s entire civilisation will perish if the Islamic Republic does not open the Strait of Hormuz. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated that Trump has no right to threaten other countries.
“Trump has no right to wake up in the morning and threaten a country,” Lula told the Spanish daily El Pais, as reported by AFP on Thursday (16 April 2026). He reminded that the US Constitution divides authority over war and foreign policy between Congress and the president.
“It is very important that those in power take greater responsibility for maintaining peace,” added the 80-year-old left-wing president.
Lula and Trump are on opposing sides on issues including multilateralism, international trade, and the fight against climate change.
Relations between Brasília and Washington remain tense, although a meeting between the leaders of the two countries last year helped ease tensions and led to a reduction in trade tariffs.
Lula once again called for reform of the United Nations Security Council, including the elimination of the veto power held by the five permanent members and the inclusion of more countries from Africa and Latin America.
“It is time to redefine the United Nations to give it credibility; otherwise, Trump is right,” said Lula, referring to the US president’s criticism that the post-Second World War international system is no longer effective.
Lula spoke to the newspaper ahead of his visit to Spain. During the trip, he will meet Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and attend a forum of progressive leaders.
Other participants in the meeting in Barcelona on Saturday (18 April) include Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Trump’s Threat to Iran
US President Donald Trump previously issued his latest threat against Iran. The threat was made by Trump ahead of the deadline for opening the Strait of Hormuz, which was closed due to a war started by Trump and Israel.
“The entire civilisation will die tonight and will never be able to be revived,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform, as reported by Al Jazeera on Tuesday (7 April).
In a subsequent post, he claimed he did not want that to happen. He claimed to want a regime change in Iran.