Trump Threatens Expanded Strikes on Iranian Infrastructure
President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will significantly expand its military campaign against Iran in the coming week, specifically targeting the nation’s power plants and bridges. In an interview with Fox News, the President stated that if Tehran does not reach an agreement with the U.S., the upcoming week would be “very bad” for the country.
“We will destroy all their power plants. We will destroy all their bridges unless they return to the negotiating table,” Trump said. When questioned regarding the duration of the American military operations, the President asserted that the strikes would continue until he deems them sufficient.
Naval Blockade and Military Posture
These warnings coincide with an ongoing military escalation that has seen U.S. forces conduct strikes for four consecutive days. A naval blockade on Iranian ports, announced by the President, went into effect Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. GMT. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the commencement of the blockade via a statement on the platform X. Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft are currently deployed across the Middle East. CENTCOM officials stated that U.S. forces remain in a state of full alert and are prepared to execute their missions. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, reported that Iranian forces have engaged in deliberate attacks on seven commercial vessels over the past seven days, resulting in approximately 12 civilian crew members being killed, injured, or reported missing. Additionally, Cooper noted that Iranian forces have launched dozens of missiles and drones toward neighboring Gulf states.
Regional Conflict and Retaliatory Attacks
The situation has triggered a wider regional exchange of fire. Iranian state television reported that the Iranian military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have launched attacks on U.S. targets in Jordan and Kuwait. Specifically, the military claimed to have targeted the Al-Azraq base in Jordan with drones, while the IRGC reported firing cruise missiles at a U.S. military logistics center in Kuwait’s Mina Abdullah area.
The IRGC declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States ends what it described as “aggressive acts.”
Inside Iran, reports of military activity have emerged. The semi-official Fars agency reported explosions in the cities of Bampur and Chabahar, though local and security officials cited by Tasnim news agency denied explosions occurred in Chabahar. Tasnim also reported that U.S. forces targeted Qeshm and Hengam islands and the city of Bandar Abbas. Additionally, the semi-official Mehr agency reported that Iranian air defenses were activated around the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
Diplomatic Standoff and Nuclear Concerns
President Trump has emphasized that he will not approve any agreement that does not guarantee Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon. He claimed that Iran was two weeks away from obtaining such a weapon and that the conflict was prevented only by the bombardment of their nuclear sites.
Despite the intensity of the conflict, the President expressed that the U.S. is close to a deal, suggesting that an agreement could be signed as early as next week. However, the path to diplomacy remains fraught with tension. Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, have stated that while Iran has not left the negotiating table, it will not retreat in the face of threats.
The conflict follows a period of heightened tensions involving Israel, during which Iranian officials accused the U.S. of being responsible for Israeli strikes and violating previous ceasefire understandings. As the military confrontation enters its second week, the administration faces the challenge of reconciling its stated goal of a diplomatic resolution with the reality of an active, escalating war.
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