Middle East: US President Donald Trump has threatened to launch attacks on Iran’s bridges and power plants if Tehran does not return to the negotiating table, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two countries as military exchanges entered their fourth consecutive day.
Speaking during an interview with Fox News, Trump said Iran had one final opportunity to restart negotiations before facing a new wave of US military action.
The warning came amid continued missile and drone exchanges, renewed US military operations in the region and growing concerns over the security of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil shipping routes.
Trump issues warning to Tehran
During the interview, Trump said the US was prepared to target critical infrastructure if Iran refused to negotiate.
“Next week it gets really bad for them. 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,” he said.
He further stated that energy infrastructure could also become a target if diplomatic efforts fail.
“I’ll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we’ll hit energy targets,” Trump added.
According to the US President, American negotiators had informed Iranian officials that they should agree to a deal immediately or face severe consequences.
Human rights concerns over infrastructure attacks
Trump’s latest remarks have revived concerns raised earlier this year when he first suggested targeting Iranian civilian infrastructure.
In April, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure could amount to war crimes under international humanitarian law.
The 1949 Geneva Conventions prohibit intentional attacks on facilities considered essential for civilian populations, including electricity networks, bridges and other public infrastructure.
The renewed rhetoric is likely to draw further scrutiny from international organisations monitoring the conflict.
US resumes military operations
Hours after Trump withdrew his proposal to impose a 20% fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the United States resumed military operations against Iranian targets.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces carried out a seven-hour operation targeting dozens of Iranian military facilities near the Strait of Hormuz.
The military said the strikes were intended to reduce Iran’s capability to threaten international commercial shipping and civilian vessels operating in the region.
Iranian officials later confirmed that at least seven military personnel were killed during strikes on a military base near Bampur in southeastern Iran.
Iran launches regional attacks
Iran responded by launching missiles and drones targeting US military facilities across the Gulf region.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported attacks against American positions in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Military authorities in Kuwait and Bahrain later confirmed intercepting and destroying several incoming aerial threats before they reached their intended targets.
The latest developments mark one of the most serious regional escalations since hostilities intensified earlier this year.
Commercial shipping comes under threat
The conflict has increasingly affected international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM accused Iran of deliberately targeting commercial vessels operating in the region, claiming attacks on seven ships had resulted in civilian casualties, including deaths, injuries and missing crew members.
Earlier this week, the United Arab Emirates said Iranian cruise missiles struck two Emirati tankers, killing one Indian crew member and injuring eight others.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later acknowledged carrying out strikes against the vessels, alleging they had ignored navigation warnings and entered a mined route.
Separately, the family of an Indian sailor confirmed that he died after his cargo vessel was attacked off the coast of Oman. Twenty-three other crew members aboard the Cypriot-flagged ship were rescued.
Hormuz dispute deepens
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the growing confrontation.
Earlier this week, Trump abandoned plans to impose a 20% transit fee on cargo moving through the waterway, saying the proposal would instead be replaced by major trade and investment agreements with Gulf nations.
However, he simultaneously announced the continuation of a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said the Strait would remain open to international shipping except for Iranian vessels and claimed oil supplies were continuing uninterrupted because of the US military’s presence.
He later told reporters that Gulf leaders had urged him to reconsider the proposed shipping fee.
Iran rejects US pressure
Iran dismissed Trump’s latest threats and insisted it would not negotiate under military or economic pressure.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Washington’s decision to resume the blockade had effectively undermined previous agreements aimed at reducing tensions.
“If the US thinks that by tightening its measures against us, its military actions and its economic blockade, we will return to negotiations, it is making a mistake,” he said.
Tehran also reaffirmed that it continues to regard itself as a key authority over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices climb as tensions grow
The renewed military confrontation has already affected global energy markets.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed significantly, while benchmark Brent crude prices have risen amid fears that further escalation could disrupt global oil supplies.
The waterway handles a substantial share of the world’s oil exports, making any disruption a major concern for international markets and governments alike.
Analysts are closely monitoring developments, with investors watching whether diplomatic efforts can resume before the conflict escalates further.
Conclusion
Trump’s latest warning signals a dramatic escalation in the US-Iran confrontation, with military action now openly linked to stalled negotiations. As both sides continue exchanging strikes and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz intensify, concerns are growing over regional stability, global energy security and the prospects for renewed diplomacy.