Trump threatens Iranian bridges, power plants for ship attacks

President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that the United States would retaliate against any Iranian attack on ships in the Strait of Hormuz by bombing a bridge or power plant inside Iran, including in the capital Tehran. The threat, issued on Truth Social, marks a significant escalation as the Trump administration considers both a ceasefire and a major military buildup.

A new ultimatum

Trump wrote that from now on, “any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by missile, rocket, drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant, including those located next to, or in, the capital city of Tehran.” The president’s key condition for a ceasefire is that Iran stop its attacks on shipping and reopen the strait, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies.

The U.S. military has already bombed bridges in southern Iran over the last 11 days of fighting. But targeting power plants and striking Tehran would represent a further step up, one that risks triggering a wider Iranian retaliation. The Strait of Hormuz has seen more than 30 commercial vessels attacked by Iran over the past three months, according to U.S. Central Command. Several of those attacks came after the U.S. and Iran signed a June memorandum of understanding that called for a halt to hostilities.

Iran’s defiant response

Iranian officials quickly pushed back. Parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X that the Strait of Hormuz “will not return to its pre-war status.” He added, “In a region where we cannot sell oil, no one will sell oil. If our security is not guaranteed, no infrastructure will be safe. The security of the strait depends on the absence of U.S. forces.”

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Iran’s defense doctrine is “eye for an eye,” threatening countries that actively support U.S. attacks against Iran. “Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response,” he wrote. “Those who contribute to such aggression, whatever the kind of support, will also be considered as legitimate targets.” Brig. Gen. Seyed Majid Mousavi, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force, went further, warning that if the U.S. bombs Iranian bridges and power plants, there will be “power outages” in other countries in the region that are U.S. allies.

Implications of the standoff

The escalating rhetoric suggests both sides are bracing for a prolonged confrontation. The Trump administration’s tactic of linking retaliation to each ship attack raises the stakes and could lead to a rapid cycle of strikes. Iran’s threats to extend the conflict beyond its borders, including targeting infrastructure in allied nations, risk drawing in other regional players. Meanwhile, the international community watches nervously as disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have already begun to affect global oil prices and supply chains.

The situation remains fluid, with the U.S. president simultaneously pursuing a ceasefire while threatening greater military action. Whether either side will back down or whether the conflict will spiral further remains uncertain. For now, the world braces for what could be a decisive turning point in one of the world’s most volatile waterways.