Trump threatens to destroy new civilian targets if Iran attacks ships in Hormuz again

WashingtonThe President of the United States, Donald Trump, has promised new attacks against civilian infrastructure if Iran continues to launch missiles at the few ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. "Every time the Islamic Republic fires at a vessel in the strait, be it a missile or a drone, the US will bomb and destroy a bridge or a power plant, including those located next to, or inside, Tehran," the Republican wrote on Truth Social. The leader intends to apply a kind of eye for an eye, which brings Washington even closer to an all-out war with the ayatollahs.

In response to the American president's threats, Tehran has warned that, if Washington carries them out, it will respond with more attacks on civilian infrastructure in the Middle East, including bridges and energy facilities. "Iran has an iron will when it comes to exercising sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and will never allow it to be a threat to Iran again," said the semi-official news agency Tasnim, citing an anonymous military source.

At the beginning of the conflict, the possibility that the US military would destroy bridges or power plants caused nervousness at the Pentagon, due to the possibility of being considered war crimes. Now, however, these kinds of actions have become normalized as just another element of the conflict. Last week, amidst the resumption of hostilities in the region, Iranian officials reported attacks on several bridges and the construction site of a planned nuclear power plant.

The leader's threat comes after the eleventh consecutive night of cross-border attacks in the Gulf and with the Houthis threatening to also block the Red Sea. Currently, Hormuz is once again under a double siege imposed by both Iranians and Americans. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is another critical point for global energy flow, especially for oil leaving Saudi Arabia.

The Republican traveled this Wednesday to the Dover (Delaware) Air Force Base to receive the remains of the four soldiers who died over the weekend in Jordan and Iraq. The three who died in Jordan are Jame Feehan, 25; Isabella Gonzales, 19; and Angel S. Rampersad, 28. Before boarding Air Force One for Dover, the leader once again promised revenge for the dead. "They will pay a very high price and are already being decimated," he stated. In total, the Iran war has left 18 casualties among the US ranks, surpassing the 13 soldiers killed during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.