Trump threatens Iran with attacks on power plants, bridges

U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric against Iran, threatening to target the nation's civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, unless it agrees to negotiations. Trump announced in an interview with Fox News that these attacks would continue until he deemed it sufficient, recalling a similar, unfulfilled threat made in April. At that time, Trump aimed to pressure Iran into opening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil trade.

The U.S. military confirmed it initiated a new wave of attacks on Iran and reinstated a naval blockade of its ports and coastal areas. According to U.S. officials, these actions are intended to counter Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. regional command, Centcom, accused Iran of attacking seven merchant ships in the past week, resulting in the deaths, injuries, or disappearances of nearly a dozen crew members.

Trump had previously declared an end to a ceasefire that had been in place since April, announcing further aggressive actions against Iran. The United States and Israel jointly initiated the conflict on February 28. While Washington and Tehran reached a framework agreement in mid-June to end the war, talks have faltered in the wake of recent escalations.