Trump again threatens to strike Iran’s power plants amid impasse over strait of Hormuz
Trump Warns of Escalating Attacks on Iranian Infrastructure as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Deepens
Threats of Targeted Strikes on Critical Facilities
Trump again threatens to strike Iran - President Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning that American military operations against Iran will intensify during the coming week, with specific focus on the nation's energy and transportation networks. Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, the American leader made clear that Tehran faces a critical deadline if it wishes to avoid further destruction. "Next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges," Trump declared. He emphasized that American forces would systematically dismantle these vital assets unless Iranian representatives come forward for meaningful negotiations. "We're going to knock out all their power plants. We're going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate."
This latest escalation follows similar threats made by Trump back in March, when he promised to completely destroy Iran's power stations and freshwater treatment facilities unless the Islamic Republic agreed to peace conditions within a short timeframe. Legal experts have noted that targeting civilian infrastructure like electrical grids and water treatment centers could violate international humanitarian law and potentially qualify as war crimes under established legal frameworks.
Continued Military Operations and Regional Impact
Trump's statements coincided with the fourth consecutive day of American military strikes against Iranian targets. US Central Command announced that these operations were designed to weaken Iranian capabilities that threaten commercial shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway serves as the primary maritime route for Gulf oil and natural gas exports, and Tehran has conducted multiple attacks on civilian vessels navigating these waters.
Iranian state media reported significant explosions near the port city of Bandar Abbas and on the Gulf island of Qeshm, both located close to the contested strait. In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it had struck command-and-control centers, logistics hubs, fuel depots, and military equipment belonging to the US Fifth Fleet stationed in Bahrain.
The conflict has spread beyond direct Iran-US engagements. Both Bahrain and Kuwait experienced attacks, while Jordan's military reported intercepting and destroying three ballistic missiles that penetrated its airspace early Wednesday morning. Iranian news agency IRNA stated that Iranian forces had also launched a drone assault against a Jordanian military installation hosting American aircraft.
Diplomatic Maneuvering and Economic Concerns
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a stern warning regarding maritime trade routes. If Washington attempts to restrict the region's energy exports by controlling sea lanes, the IRGC threatened that alternative export corridors serving American and allied interests might also be shut down. The military organization characterized regional energy exports as being "for everyone or for no one."
Days of reciprocal strikes across the Middle East have heightened fears that the region could descend into full-scale warfare. Both nations are competing for dominance over the waterway through which approximately one-fifth of global oil and natural gas flows during peacetime conditions.
Trump recently modified his earlier proposal regarding a 20 percent fee that American ships would have to pay for security services in the Strait of Hormuz. Instead of the toll, he announced investment and trade agreements with Gulf Arab nations. The president explained that he had abandoned the fee "based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership," highlighting what he called "massive" investments just five hours before the original toll was set to begin.
Diminishing Prospects for Peace
Hope for a lasting resolution appears to be fading. An interim ceasefire agreement was reached on June 17, but prospects for a permanent truce are deteriorating. Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, criticized the American decision to reinstate the naval blockade, stating that it had effectively undermined the Islamabad memorandum.
"They'll continue until I say it's enough … We're going to knock out all their power plants. We're going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate," Trump responded when asked about the duration of American strikes.
The president confirmed that the blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place. With diplomatic channels strained and military operations continuing, the situation remains volatile as both sides prepare for potential further escalation in the coming days.
With Agence France-Presse