The Met calls Trump's threat to target Iranian cultural sites "abhorrent"

• "They’re allowed to kill our people," Trump told reporters. "They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn’t work that way."

What they're saying:

“The targeting of sites of global cultural heritage is abhorrent to the collective values of our society. Our world knows precisely what is gained from protecting cultural sites, and, tragically, what is lost when destruction and chaos prevail.

At this challenging time, we must remind ourselves of the global importance of protecting cultural sites—the objects and places by which individuals, communities, and nations connect to their history and heritage.

Today’s leaders and citizens have many profound responsibilities—protecting lives, and also protecting the precious legacy of generations before us, as it is from these shared places of cultural heritage that we gain the wisdom to secure safe and better futures.”

Go deeper:

• Rouhani invokes U.S. downing of Iran Air Flight 655 in response to Trump threats
• Trump warns he may hit Iraq with sanctions, doubles down on Iran threat
• Netanyahu tells Security Cabinet Israel must not be dragged into Soleimani killing