US warns it could strike Iranian infrastructure if Strait of Hormuz attacks continue
The United States has warned that it could target Iranian bridges or power plants if attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz persist. Former President Donald Trump, writing on his social media platform Truth Social, stated that potential targets could include infrastructure 'located next to, or in' Tehran.
The threat comes amid an ongoing cycle of strikes between the US and Iran. The US has launched strikes on Iran for 11 consecutive nights, and Iran has retaliated against US and allied targets in the region. Iran has warned the US against targeting its nuclear facilities.
Iranian state media reported that air defences were activated in Tehran, and explosions were heard in several cities, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, and Bushehr, which hosts Iran's only nuclear power plant. Iran also warned of reprisals after Trump's earlier statement that the US would soon hit an underground nuclear site near Natanz.
Several Gulf states have reported intercepting drone and missile attacks from Iran. Kuwait's army said its air defences engaged drones on Wednesday, while Bahrain and Jordan also reported intercepting projectiles.
The escalation has driven oil prices higher, reaching $94 per barrel on Wednesday.
Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned on social media that 'the equation of this war is clear: either all or none!' He added that if Iran cannot sell oil, no one will, and that the security of the Strait of Hormuz is contingent on the absence of American forces. Ghalibaf stated that the strait's situation 'will not return to pre-war conditions.'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remains open to diplomacy but expressed doubt that Iran is serious about talks.
The situation reflects a dangerous escalation between the two countries, with the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway for global oil shipments—at the centre of tensions.
