US President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iran’s power plants and bridges next week unless Tehran resumes negotiations, as hostilities between the two nations enter a fourth consecutive day.
The warning came during a Fox News interview aired Tuesday, where Trump reiterated earlier threats condemned by UN officials as potential war crimes under international law. Volker Türk, the UN human rights chief, previously stated that deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure violates the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
Escalation in Strait of Hormuz
Trump’s remarks follow a shift in US strategy: a proposed 20% fee on Strait of Hormuz cargo shipping was replaced by plans for trade and investment deals with Gulf states. Hours later, the US resumed its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
US Central Command confirmed late Tuesday that forces had launched additional strikes against Iran, aiming to degrade capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the critical waterway. Admiral Brad Cooper accused Iran of intentionally targeting civilians, citing attacks on seven commercial ships that left nearly a dozen crew members killed, missing, or injured.
Regional fallout and economic impact
Kuwait and Bahrain reported intercepting Iranian drones and activating air raid sirens early Wednesday. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had struck two UAE tankers for ignoring warnings, while the UAE condemned the attacks as "brazen."
Shipping data shows traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed to a two-month low, with Brent Crude oil prices rising sharply. Iran maintains control of the strait, dismissing US demands and stating that economic blockades will not force it back to negotiations.
