Trump threatens that if Iran attacks a ship, he will bomb a bridge or a power plant; Iran responds that if attacked, it will retaliate against U.S. interests and facilities.
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The US-Iran conflict is further escalating along the path of "attacking ships—striking infrastructure—retaliating against US interests."
According to Xinhua News Agency, US President Trump said on Wednesday the 22nd that from now on, whenever Iran opens fire on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the US will bomb and destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant. The Iranian military responded toughly, stating that if the US strikes Iranian bridges or power plants, Iran will retaliate by attacking energy and other infrastructure in the region associated with US interests.
On the same day, US Secretary of State Rubio stated that the US is still willing to negotiate with Iran, but if Iran continues to threaten the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, US military action will continue. The Iranian side emphasized that it has the ability to strike "any target it wants," and will not allow the Strait of Hormuz to become a tool of threat against Iran again.
As Trump extends strike targets from military facilities to bridges, power plants, and other infrastructure, the logic of US-Iran conflict escalation is becoming increasingly evident. Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki also stated that Iran has the capability to seize US military bases in Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain, warning Ukraine not to supply drones to Middle Eastern countries and the US, or Ukraine's military facilities and President Zelensky's residence could become "legitimate strike targets."
Trump warns Iran not to fire on ships in the Strait of Hormuz; US may strike Tehran
On the 22nd, Trump posted on social media that if Iran opens fire on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, regardless of whether missiles, rockets, drones, or other weapons are used, the US will "bomb and destroy a bridge or power plant."
Trump specifically emphasized that the targeted facilities could be located within or near the city of Tehran.
This statement means that the US threats to strike Iranian military targets and related military facilities are further expanding to transportation and energy infrastructure.
Trump's threat came as US Central Command had just concluded a new round of strikes against Iranian military targets, with US military action against Iran continuing for several nights. The US side said the military actions aimed to weaken Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping and control the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz has become the core flashpoint of the current US-Iran conflict.
The US insists that Iran cannot restrict international commercial shipping through force, threats, or tolls; Iran, on the other hand, emphasizes that the security of the Strait of Hormuz must be led by Iran and demands that passing ships coordinate with Iran.
Iranian military: Iran has "iron will" to control the Strait
According to Xinhua citing Iran's Tasnim news agency, an Iranian military insider stated on the 22nd that if the US strikes Iranian bridges or power plants, Iran will carry out retaliatory strikes against energy and other infrastructure in the region associated with US interests.
The source said that the US should have fully realized in the past ten days that "Iran has the ability to strike any target it wants."
The Iranian side also stated that regarding the exercise of control over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has an "iron will" and will not allow the strait to become a tool threatening Iran again.
The Iranian military said that ships passing through, if coordinating with Iran and accepting relevant arrangements, can safely transit the Strait of Hormuz; otherwise, Iran will "resolutely exercise control over the strait."
This means that Trump's threat of "reciprocal retaliation" has already met with a swift counter-response from Iran.
If the US strikes Iranian bridges and power plants, Iran may target US energy, military logistics, and other facilities in the Middle East in retaliation. As both sides expand the range of potential targets, the conflict risks spilling over from shipping safety in the Strait of Hormuz to the entire Gulf region's infrastructure network.
Rubio: The US is still willing to negotiate, but violations will have "consequences"
Coinciding with Trump's tough threats, US Secretary of State Rubio said at an ASEAN-related meeting in the Philippines on the 22nd that the US still wants to negotiate with Iran, but only if Iran honors its commitments.
Rubio warned that if Iran continues to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the US will continue military action.
"We are willing to negotiate, but if Iran continues to violate its commitments, there will be consequences," said Rubio.
Rubio also noted that some countries have expressed interest in helping to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, but due to domestic legislative procedures or authorization from international organizations, they have not yet joined the relevant operations.
He said the US does not need these countries to participate, but believes their involvement would be "beneficial," especially as some have special capabilities such as minesweeping. Rubio also emphasized that a significant portion of oil and energy transported through the Strait of Hormuz is destined for Asia, so Asian countries also have an interest in ensuring navigation safety.
When discussing China, Rubio stated that China's public opposition to charging passage fees or restricting freedom of navigation for commercial shipping is "very important." He did not respond directly to reports that Russia and other countries might provide Iran with targeting information.
Notably, Rubio also accused Iran of sending Islamic Revolutionary Guard personnel to Yemen, saying Iran's actions have fueled a new round of conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.
This means that, in the US view, Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Houthis' actions in the Red Sea are creating broader regional pressure.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister: Iran has the capability to seize US military bases in the Gulf region
Tough statements from the Iranian side are not limited to the Strait of Hormuz.
According to CCTV, former Iranian Foreign Minister and current Iranian parliamentarian Mottaki recently responded to US threats of a ground offensive against Iran by stating that Iran possesses ground combat capability, and has the ability to send troops to seize US military bases in Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Mottaki also said that people in these regions might support Iranian troops' actions.
If this threat turns into actual military action, it would mean the risk of US-Iran conflict escalating from airstrikes, missiles, and drone skirmishes to a direct ground threat against US bases in the Middle East.
Currently, the US has a massive military presence in the Gulf region, with bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and other Gulf states forming the US military’s major logistics and command network in the Middle East. Iran has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to strike US military installations with missiles and drones.
Iran warns Ukraine: Supplying drones will make its facilities targets for attack
Mottaki also issued a warning to Ukraine.
According to CCTV, he stated that Ukraine should not continue providing drones to Middle Eastern countries and the US, otherwise Ukraine's military facilities and President Zelensky's residence could become "legitimate strike targets."
This statement further expands the geographical scope of Iran's public threats.
In Iran's view, any country that provides military support to the US and its allies could be included as a potential strike target. This also reflects Iran's attempt to deter more countries from directly or indirectly participating in the US's military actions in the Middle East.
However, Mottaki's statements are those of a former foreign minister and current MP, and do not necessarily indicate that the Iranian government has made formal military decisions. What is most worth watching is whether such threats will be further incorporated into Iran's official military and foreign policy.
US-Iran talks continue to be under pressure, Strait of Hormuz remains the "trigger" for escalation
As military threats continue to escalate, diplomatic space between the US and Iran is shrinking.
Trump previously stated that Iran "is eager to meet," but that the US is not interested in talks until Iran is ready for "meaningful negotiations." On the 22nd, Rubio reiterated that the US has not closed the door to negotiations, but US military action will not stop automatically just because Iran expresses a willingness to talk.
The problem is that the US and Iran have significantly different understandings of "preconditions" for negotiations.
The US requires Iran to stop threatening navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and accept arrangements put forward by the US; Iran, however, believes that US military strikes are the real root of regional insecurity and insists on having a leading role over the strait.
In this context, any ship attack in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger the kind of infrastructure strikes Trump has threatened; and any US strikes on Iranian bridges, power plants, etc. could lead to Iranian retaliation against US and regional allies' infrastructure.
The US-Iran conflict is forming a dangerous cycle of escalation: shipping conflicts trigger military strikes, military strikes extend to infrastructure targets, and infrastructure attacks could lead to broader regional retaliation.
For energy markets, the ongoing escalation of risk in the Strait of Hormuz also means that global oil and gas supply chains will continue to face enormous uncertainty. Should the strait escalate from "disrupted shipping" to large-scale military confrontation, the impact will far exceed bilateral US-Iran relations, and may quickly be transmitted to global energy prices, inflation expectations, and financial markets.
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