Trump says U.S. will destroy a bridge or power plant for each Iranian attack in the Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning Wednesday: any Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with the destruction of a bridge or power plant in Iran. This latest threat escalates a conflict that has already caused significant global economic disruption and sent fuel prices soaring.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global energy, remains tense and largely closed due to Iranian attacks. Both sides appear entrenched in their positions, with negotiations stalled. The U.S. carried out another wave of strikes on Iran overnight into Wednesday, while Iran launched a missile attack on a Jordanian city, and air defense alerts were sounded in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Trump's threat to target civilian infrastructure raises concerns under international law, which generally prohibits such attacks unless the infrastructure is used for military purposes. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had previously decried such actions as "unacceptable."

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From this point forward, 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.

The closure of the strait, which normally handles a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas, has severely impacted the global economy. Adding to the instability, Houthi rebels in Yemen have threatened to target Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, another critical trade chokepoint. Benchmark Brent crude oil prices have risen sharply, exceeding $93 a barrel, up from less than $72 earlier this month. Gasoline prices are also climbing.

Iran asserts its right to manage traffic and potentially charge fees in the strait, which was previously open and toll-free. The country has targeted ships using a route overseen by U.S. forces, a route intended to be outside Tehran's control. The conflict's costs are mounting, with the U.S. defense secretary estimating the war has cost $37.5 billion so far, with an additional $67 billion needed to restock arms.

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unacceptable