ALBAWABA- Iran has threatened to target US-linked bridges and energy infrastructure across the Middle East in response to President Donald Trump's warning that Washington would strike Iranian bridges and power plants if Tehran attacks shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump declared that the United States would retaliate against any future Iranian attack on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz by destroying "one bridge or power plant," including facilities in or near the Iranian capital, Tehran.
"From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by missile, rocket, drone, or any other weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant."
Trump also dismissed suggestions that domestic politics were influencing his decision-making, saying US military operations against Iran were unrelated to the upcoming midterm elections and arguing that Americans were more concerned about rising fuel prices than the conflict itself.
In response, Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency, citing a military source, reported that Tehran would retaliate by targeting US-linked bridges and energy facilities across the region if Iranian infrastructure came under attack. The warning signals Iran's intention to mirror any US strikes against its transportation or energy assets.
The exchange marks the latest escalation in the ongoing US-Iran confrontation, which has intensified in recent weeks following repeated exchanges of missile, drone, and air strikes. The conflict has expanded beyond direct military targets to include threats against critical infrastructure, raising concerns over the security of energy facilities and transportation networks across the Gulf.
The latest rhetoric comes amid continued tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil trade passes. Washington has accused Tehran of threatening freedom of navigation, while Iran has portrayed its actions as retaliation for US military operations and pressure on the Islamic Republic.
In recent weeks, the United States has carried out strikes against Iranian military installations and infrastructure, while Iran has responded with attacks targeting US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, as well as threats to regional shipping and energy infrastructure.
