U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States will bomb an Iranian bridge or power plant, including those in Tehran, every time Iran attacks a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that if Iran fires a missile, rocket, drone or any other weapon at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States will respond by destroying one bridge or power plant in Iran. He said the targets could include facilities located in or near the capital, Tehran.
The warning came as tensions between the United States and Iran continued to rise following the collapse of their ceasefire and the recent deaths of three U.S. service members, whose remains Trump was scheduled to receive later Wednesday.
Iran responded by warning that it would strike U.S.-linked infrastructure and energy facilities across the region if Washington carries out Trump’s threat.
According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, an Iranian military source said that if the United States attacks a bridge or power plant in Iran, Tehran will respond by targeting regional infrastructure, bridges and energy facilities in which the United States has interests.
The source also said Iran remains determined to control passage through the Strait of Hormuz and that ships would be allowed to pass safely only if their transit is coordinated with Tehran under Iranian arrangements.
Trump has previously threatened to target Iran’s power plants, water facilities and other infrastructure. Experts have warned that such attacks could constitute war crimes under international law.
Earlier Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran was not “serious” about reaching an agreement with the United States while stressing that Washington remains committed to diplomacy in the Middle East.
His comments came as U.S. Central Command carried out strikes against Iranian targets for the 11th consecutive night as part of efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said it targeted military operations centers, drone storage facilities and military logistics infrastructure.
Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the Philippines, Rubio said one of the main disagreements is Iran’s demand to control traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which he said is not permitted under international law.
Rubio warned that allowing any country to control an international waterway, charge tolls and threaten ships that refuse to pay would create a dangerous precedent that could affect other parts of the world.
He also appeared to refer to China, saying Southeast Asia understands the importance of freedom of navigation in international waterways.
Later, Rubio said the United States remains willing to negotiate a diplomatic solution with Iran. He said Washington wants an agreement under which Iran would stop supporting terrorism and abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and the capabilities needed to develop them.
However, Rubio said Iran does not currently appear serious about reaching a deal, adding that Tehran violated commitments it made in last month’s memorandum of understanding within two weeks.
The U.S. Navy has previously conducted freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, where several Southeast Asian countries have territorial disputes with China. Beijing claims most of the sea under its “nine-dash line,” despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that found those claims have no basis under international law. China has rejected the ruling.
