Trump threatens to strike Iranian power plants for every ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz
BY SCN NEWS DESK
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant each time Iran attacks a ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz, sharply escalating Washington’s warnings as fighting between the United States and Iran intensifies.
Trump said the United States would retaliate whenever Iran targeted a vessel with a missile, rocket, drone or other weapon in the strategically important waterway. His warning included infrastructure in and around Tehran, according to reports of his remarks on Wednesday.
The president’s statement came as US forces continued strikes on Iranian military and logistical targets and after the breakdown of an interim ceasefire arrangement. Washington says its campaign is intended to protect international shipping and pressure Tehran into serious negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes, connecting oil-producing Gulf states with international markets. Continued attacks on commercial vessels or any prolonged disruption to shipping could push energy prices higher and create wider economic pressure.
Trump wrote that for every ship Iran attacked, the United States would strike one bridge or power plant. He did not publicly identify specific targets or explain how US forces would determine whether an installation qualified as a military objective.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said American military operations would continue until Iran showed that it was serious about negotiations, according to reports. The administration has also restored pressure on Iranian ports and targeted missile sites, coastal defences and surveillance capabilities near the strait.
Iran has not immediately indicated that Trump’s latest warning would alter its military position. Tehran has previously portrayed its attacks as retaliation for US strikes and has accused Washington of targeting civilian facilities.
The latest threat is likely to deepen concerns over civilian casualties and the legality of attacks on essential infrastructure.
Under international humanitarian law, power stations, bridges and other civilian infrastructure are generally protected from attack unless they are being used for a specific military purpose. Even when a site qualifies as a military objective, an attacker must consider whether expected civilian harm would be excessive compared with the anticipated military advantage.
The United Nations and human rights organisations have repeatedly warned against attacks on infrastructure needed to provide electricity, water and other essential services. Amnesty International previously described threats to attack Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure as potentially amounting to threats to commit war crimes.
However, the legal status of any particular site would depend on how it was being used and the circumstances at the time of an attack. A bridge carrying military equipment or a power facility directly supporting military operations could potentially be treated differently from infrastructure serving an overwhelmingly civilian population.
The warning follows several days of escalating US and Iranian strikes. US forces have said they targeted Iranian missile and drone facilities, naval capabilities and coastal defence systems. Iran, meanwhile, has launched missiles and drones at American and allied interests across the region.
Recent attacks on tankers and other vessels have increased fears that the conflict could spread further across the Gulf. Any sustained disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would affect not only Iran and the United States but also major oil exporters including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq.
Trump has repeatedly threatened Iranian infrastructure during the conflict. Earlier warnings included possible strikes on power plants, bridges and other facilities if Iran did not reopen the strait or agree to US terms. His latest statement introduces a more explicit retaliatory formula linking each attack on a ship to a separate US strike.
Diplomatic efforts have so far failed to secure a lasting reduction in hostilities. Regional governments have attempted to mediate, but Washington and Tehran continue to accuse each other of undermining negotiations.
Why it matters
Trump’s warning raises the possibility that attacks on shipping could trigger automatic strikes on Iranian infrastructure, creating a cycle of retaliation that may become increasingly difficult to contain.
Power plants and bridges can have both civilian and military uses, but damage to them could disrupt electricity, transport, hospitals, water systems and daily life for large numbers of people.
The threat could also add pressure to global oil markets. Traders are closely watching the Strait of Hormuz because even limited disruption can affect shipping insurance, freight costs and expectations about future energy supplies.
What happens next
Attention will now focus on whether Iran carries out further attacks on vessels in the strait and whether the United States follows through on Trump’s warning.
The Trump administration is also expected to face questions from Congress and international allies about its targeting rules, the legal basis for further strikes and whether the military campaign remains connected to a defined diplomatic objective.
Most Unique Fact
Trump’s latest warning establishes a direct one-for-one threat: one Iranian attack on a ship would be answered with the destruction of one Iranian bridge or power plant—a more specific retaliation policy than his previous general threats against Iranian infrastructure.