President Donald Trump has threatened to widen US strikes on Iran to include power plants and bridges next week if Tehran does not agree to a deal, as tensions escalate over the strait of Hormuz.
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Key facts
- Trump said US strikes could target Iran's power plants and bridges next week.
- The threat is tied to an impasse over the strait of Hormuz, according to the Guardian.
- Trump made the comments in a Fox News interview on Tuesday.
- He said escalation would come 'unless they get to the table and negotiate.'
- Fighting in the Middle East has intensified in recent days, according to CNBC.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to expand American strikes on Iran next week to target power plants and bridges if Tehran does not agree to a deal, amid a continuing dispute over the strait of Hormuz, according to the Guardian.
Speaking in a Fox News interview on Tuesday, Trump warned that the situation would worsen for Iran in the coming days. “Next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges,” he said.
The president tied the potential escalation directly to negotiations, saying: “We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.”
The threat comes amid an impasse over the strait of Hormuz, a key waterway at the center of the current dispute between Washington and Tehran, the Guardian reported.
Fighting in the Middle East has intensified in recent days, according to CNBC, which reported that the conflict could escalate further if Iran fails to cooperate, as the president indicated.
Trump’s comments signal a shift toward targeting civilian infrastructure as a means of pressuring Iran into negotiations, though the sources do not detail Tehran’s response or any specific timeline beyond the president’s reference to next week.
Why it matters
A threat to strike civilian infrastructure such as power plants and bridges marks a significant potential escalation in the confrontation between the United States and Iran. With fighting already intensifying and the strait of Hormuz at the center of the dispute, the stakes for regional stability and global energy supplies are high.
Frequently asked questions
What did Trump threaten to strike in Iran?
Trump said the US would target Iran's power plants and bridges next week unless Tehran agrees to negotiate, according to the Guardian.
When did Trump make these comments?
He made the remarks in a Fox News interview on Tuesday, as reported on July 15, 2026.
What is the dispute about?
According to the Guardian, the threat comes amid a continuing impasse over the strait of Hormuz.
Timeline
- Why is the US attacking southern Iran’s civilian infrastructure?
Al Jazeera: Analysts say the goals range from targeting Iran's supply lines to curbing its influence in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran accuses US of hitting civilian infrastructure
BBC World: The US military says its attacks were intended to "further degrade Iranian military capabilities".
- US launches new strikes as Iran says civilian infrastructure hit
BBC World: Tehran says the US strikes hit bridges, while the US boards a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iranian sources say US strikes hit civilian infrastructure
Al Jazeera: Iranian social media accounts, and local sources allege that US strikes caused casualties and hit infrastructure.
- Trump warns U.S. strikes on Iran could get ‘really bad’ next week with power plants targeted
CNBC Top News: Fighting in the Middle East has intensified in recent days, but could escalate further if Iran fails to cooperate, the president said.
- Trump threatens to expand strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure
The Guardian World: US president says he will knock out all power plants and bridges in effort to force Tehran to agree to deal amid impasse over strait Middle East crisis – live updates Donald Trump has threatened to expand US strikes on Iran next week to target power plants and bridges if Tehran d
- Trump threatens to expand strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure next week
The Guardian World: US president says he will knock out all power plants and bridges in effort to force Tehran to agree to deal amid impasse over strait Middle East crisis – live updates Donald Trump has threatened to expand US strikes on Iran next week to target power plants and bridges if Tehran d