‘Bridges next’: Trump threatens more Iranian targets
As dozens of countries search for ways to restart vital energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump reiterated his promise to increase the severity of attacks on Iran’s infrastructure, saying the United States “has not even begun to destroy what is left in Iran.”
Nearly five weeks after it began with a joint US-Israeli airstrike, the war in Iran continues to spread chaos across the region and rattle financial markets, increasing pressure on Trump to find a quick solution to the conflict.
Trump stepped up his rhetoric after talks with new leaders in Iran through intermediaries showed limited signs of progress.
“The US military hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran. Next are bridges, then power plants,” Trump wrote on social media late Thursday, adding that Iran’s leadership “knows what needs to be done, and it has to be done FAST.”
It had previously released a video showing the US bombing a newly built bridge between Tehran and the large northwestern suburb of Karaj.
According to Iranian state media, 8 people died and 95 people were injured in the US attack.
“Striking civilian structures, including unfinished bridges, will not force Iranians to surrender,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a statement. he said.
Satellite images also showed smoke rising from the port on the strategically located Iranian island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.
More than 100 American international law experts said Thursday that the behavior of U.S. forces and statements by senior U.S. officials raise serious concerns about violations of international law, including potential war crimes.
A letter signed by experts drew particular attention to a comment Trump made in mid-March in which he said the United States might launch an attack on Iran “just for fun.”
It also cited Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth’s comments in early March, in which he said the US was not fighting a war with “stupid rules of engagement.”
In his speech Wednesday night, Trump reiterated Iran’s threats against civilian power plants and did not give a clear timeline for ending hostilities.
This prompted promises of retaliation from Iran, put pressure on global stock prices and sent oil prices soaring on concerns that the Strait of Hormuz would remain largely closed.
Britain chaired a virtual meeting of nearly 40 countries on Thursday to explore ways to restore freedom of navigation; but participants agreed that all nations should be able to use the waterway freely.
The U.N. Security Council will vote on Saturday on a Bahrain resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the strait, but China, which has veto power, has made clear it opposes authorizing any use of force, diplomats said.
Iran has effectively closed the strait, which usually carries about a fifth of the world’s total oil trade, in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks that began on February 28.
Tehran has presented a rival vision for future control of the strait and said it was drafting a protocol with neighboring Oman that would require ships to obtain permits and licences.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas opposed Tehran’s plan, saying Iran could not be allowed to reward countries for allowing ships to pass.
It is feared the conflict could leave Iran in a stranglehold on energy supplies in the Middle East after Iran showed it could close the Strait of Hormuz by targeting oil tankers and attacking Gulf states hosting US troops.
Gulf states say they reserve the right to self-defense, but they aim to avoid escalating into an all-out Middle East war by refraining from responding militarily to Iranian attacks last month.
Thousands of people have died and tens of thousands have been injured in the Middle East since the start of the war.
Fuel shortages have already caused economic hardship in Asia and are expected to soon occur in Europe as well.
