Trump Threatens to Bomb an Iranian Bridge or Power Plant for Every Ship Attack
DUBAI/WASHINGTON-President Trump warned Wednesday, July 22, 2026, that the United States will destroy one bridge or power plant in Iran every time Tehran fires on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, a fresh escalation in a war that has now run for months with no clear resolution in sight.
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| A statue of Iranian military members overlooks vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz near the beach in Bandar Abbas, Iran, May 22. |
A Threat Aimed Directly at Civilian Infrastructure
Trump's warning was specific: "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 device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT," he wrote, according to Al Jazeera's reporting on the statement, which he said would apply to targets including those in Tehran itself. PBS News reported the US has already struck bridges in Iran in recent days, and Iranian state media claims the US also hit a power plant on Sunday. Targeting civilian infrastructure of this kind could be considered a war crime under international law.
Iran's Response
Tehran didn't back down. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator, wrote on X that the Strait of Hormuz "will not return to its pre-war status," adding that if Iran's security isn't guaranteed, no infrastructure would be safe. Majid Mousavi, head of the IRGC's Aerospace Force, warned separately that strikes on Iran's power stations would trigger Iranian retaliation causing power outages in countries hosting US troops.
A Force of 50,000 Remains in the Region
The threat comes as CBS News reported roughly 50,000 US troops remain deployed across the Middle East, with officials telling the network there has been no significant reduction in force levels at any point since the war began on February 28. The US carried out its 12th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran Wednesday, with CENTCOM saying attacks have so far stayed focused on weapons and military infrastructure rather than escalating further.
More than 50,000 U.S. service members are operating across the Middle East as President Trump issues a stark warning to Iran. Trump says the U.S. will destroy “one bridge or power plant” for every time Iran fires on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 23, 2026
Trump also says Iran is “not… pic.twitter.com/3hY706FGVw
Rubio's 'Head for an Eye'
Speaking on the sidelines of an ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Manila, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Trump's approach bluntly. Asked about Iranian officials calling their own defense doctrine "an eye for an eye," Rubio said Trump's policy is "a head for an eye", adding that Iran would keep paying "a very heavy price" for its actions. Rubio also claimed Iran is privately pushing for a new deal even as it publicly continues fighting, saying, "The problem with Iran is every time they make a deal, the people in charge either break it or they want to change it."