U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, that the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant in Iran each time Iranian forces fire upon a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. According to HuffPost, the president specified that these retaliatory strikes would occur regardless of whether the attack on shipping is carried out by missile, rocket, drone, or any other weapon.
Trump Threatens Infrastructure Strikes Over Strait Attacks
The warning, posted on social media, explicitly stated that the targeted infrastructure would include facilities located next to or within the capital city of Tehran, as reported by Indiatimes. This announcement comes amid an 11-day campaign of American airstrikes on Iran, during which air defenses have been observed firing over Tehran.
Economic and Military Stakes
The ongoing conflict has centered on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy that remains largely closed due to Iranian attacks. During peacetime, one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas passed through the strait. The resulting closure has jolted the global economy, contributing to a rise in fuel prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. According to Wion, Brent North Sea crude prices surged following the latest strikes, reaching $95.02 per barrel.
For more on this story, see US expands attacks on Iran, targeting its heartland and oil exports..
The human cost of the conflict is also mounting. Data from Iran’s Health Ministry indicates that U.S. strikes over the past 11 days have resulted in 53 deaths, including six women and three children, with nearly 600 people wounded. Despite the intensity of the campaign, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has insisted that its retaliatory attacks will continue.
Diplomatic Impasse and Regional Concerns
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute have shown little public progress. While a preliminary deal between the U.S. and Iran was reached on June 17, it has since collapsed. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at an ASEAN meeting in Manila, Philippines, condemned Iran’s actions, stating that the U.S. cannot allow a nation-state to control an international waterway, charge tolls, and destroy ships that refuse to pay. Rubio noted that the U.S. remains open to a negotiated agreement, though he expressed skepticism regarding Iran’s current willingness to engage.
This follows our earlier report, U.S. Strikes Iranian Military Sites for 10th Straight Night Amid Conflict.
The conflict has expanded beyond the strait. Iran recently launched a missile attack on the Jordanian city of Aqaba, near Israel, and security alerts have been issued in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have threatened to target Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, potentially endangering another major trade chokepoint.
Read also: Trump says Iran will pay for killing soldiers many times over after Pezeshkian.
Potential Escalation to Nuclear Sites
In addition to the threat against bridges and power plants, President Trump has signaled that U.S. forces could target an under-construction Iranian nuclear site. According to Deccanchronicle, the site—referred to as Pickaxe Mountain—is located on the south side of Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. While the U.S. bombed the Natanz site during a 2025 conflict, Pickaxe Mountain remains untouched.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, President Trump indicated he has no interest in meeting
with Iranian officials, further signaling a dim view on the possibility of renewed diplomacy. In response to the ongoing attacks, the U.S. has re-imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.
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