President Donald Trump on Wednesday vowed to attack critical Iranian infrastructure every time Tehran targets a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
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“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 device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran,” Trump declared on Truth Social.
Trump has previously refrained from targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran, though he did warn in April that the “whole civilization” would die if the regime refused to agree to a cease-fire.
Iran recently declared the Strait of Hormuz closed “until further notice” after stopping a vessel it accused of using an unauthorized route.
Since then, the IRCG has reportedly attacked two commercial vessels transiting the waterway, including a Cyprus-flagged ship.
Earlier this month, Trump floated the idea of the United States taking control of the strait, which normally sees around one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies flow through it.
The US military conducted its eleventh round of strikes on Iran early on Wednesday morning, hammering “Iranian military operation centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” according to a statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
The president told reporters that the bombings will continue until Iran comes back to the negotiating table.
The IRCG has reportedly attacked more than 30 commercial vessels passing through the strait since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury began in February.
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Despite the attacks, commercial traffic has continued through the strait, with CENTCOM forces supporting the passage of roughly 900 commercial ships.
In an escalation of hostilities, Iran over the weekend attacked U.S. outposts in Jordan and Iraq, killing four American service members.
Trump traveled to Dover Air Force Base Wednesday for the dignified transfer of the four U.S. soldiers:
• 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii
• Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas
• Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York
• Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina
Trump said dignified transfers are “one of the hardest things to do as a president” and told families, “We love you. We love your child.”
On Tuesday, the president said the U.S. plans to attack Iran’s underground nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain, about 120 miles south of Tehran.
“We’ll be hitting that area very probably pretty soon, and there’s not a thing they can do about it,” he told reporters.
“Normally I wouldn’t say that; if I thought they could do something about it I would never say that, but we’ll be hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily.”
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