President Donald Trump said the United States will hit Iranian bridges or power plants for every vessel attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the response could be immediate and repeated. The statement, made during a press briefing, was reported by multiple outlets including the BBC, The Guardian, and Reuters. Trump emphasized that the retaliation would apply to “each ship that Iran shoots at,” and hinted that targets could include sites “in or near the Iranian capital.”
U.S. Threat to Iranian Infrastructure
The promise of targeting civilian infrastructure marks a shift from conventional military retaliation to a strategy that could affect Iran’s energy and transport networks. The New York Times noted that Trump specifically mentioned bridges and power plants as potential targets, while CNN and Axios echoed the same language.
“We will destroy a bridge or a power plant for every Iranian attack on a ship,” Trump said.The president framed the policy as a deterrent aimed at halting what he described as “unprovoked attacks” on commercial shipping in the strategically vital waterway.
Iranian Counter‑Threats
Iran’s military quickly responded, warning that any U.S. strikes on civilian sites would trigger an expanded conflict. According to The Guardian, Tehran signaled it could halt the flow of Gulf oil and target “energy infrastructure in countries hosting U.S. forces.” Al Jazeera reported that Iranian officials threatened to cause power outages in regions where U.S. troops are stationed, while Middle East Monitor added that Iran might strike regional energy assets linked to the United States.
Domestic and International Reactions
Within the United States, the threat has generated criticism from some lawmakers. Senator Marco Rubio warned Asian leaders that the U.S. stance could set a “dangerous precedent,” as reported by AP News. The Pentagon also confirmed the death of a fourth U.S. service member in recent strikes related to the Hormuz tensions, according to CBS News.
Outside Washington, regional actors expressed alarm over the potential for a broader war. The same AP report noted that several Asian governments were cautioned by the United States about the “rising costs of the Iran war.” Analysts cited by Bloomberg and the Washington Post highlighted that the rhetoric could disrupt global oil markets and heighten geopolitical instability.
Economic observers, including a cryptocurrency market brief from Crypto Briefing, warned that the heightened risk could affect financial markets, while NBC News emphasized that the conflict’s escalation could strain U.S. defense spending.
Despite the flurry of statements, some details remain contested. While most outlets agree that Trump pledged to strike “bridges or power plants,” the exact criteria for target selection were not clarified. Additionally, the number of Iranian attacks on ships that have occurred since the warning began varies across reports, with no single source providing a definitive count.
Overall, the exchange of threats marks a notable escalation in an already tense standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of the world’s petroleum passes. As diplomatic channels remain active, observers caution that any misstep could quickly widen the confrontation into a regional war.
