Trump Warns of Expanded Strikes on Iran's Infrastructure Unless Talks Begin

US forces launched strikes against Iran for the fourth day in a row Tuesday, focusing on capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The renewed naval blockade aims to prevent ships from sailing to or from Iranian ports.

President Donald Trump issued a stern warning, threatening to escalate US strikes next week to include power plants and bridges if Tehran refuses to negotiate. "Next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges," Trump stated in a Fox News interview. "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."

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Next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges. 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.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that Iran had intentionally targeted civilians, attacking seven commercial ships and causing casualties. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM, stated that US forces are holding Iran accountable for aggression that endangers innocent lives. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported explosions near Bandar Abbas and claimed Iranian forces launched a drone attack on a US military base in Jordan.

A senior Iranian official indicated that the US naval blockade effectively nullified a recent agreement to pause the conflict for peace talks. The renewed blockade came into force shortly after the latest US strikes began. The conflict has seen both sides engage in attacks, with Iran reportedly hitting two ships in the Strait of Hormuz and a Norwegian tanker off the Omani coast experiencing an explosion. Kuwait also reported its naval vessel was struck.

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Iran has intentionally targeted civilians across the region by attacking seven commercial ships resulting in nearly a dozen civilian crew members killed, missing, or injured. US forces are holding Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression that continues to endanger innocent lives.