The escalating tensions between the US and Iran have reached a critical point, with President Donald Trump issuing a fresh threat to target Iranian power plants and bridges unless Tehran agrees to a deal. This new ultimatum, delivered during an interview with Fox News, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute over the vital Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for global oil and gas supplies.
The latest threats follow four consecutive days of US strikes against Iran and the re-imposition of a naval blockade on Iranian ports within the strait. According to US Central Command (Centcom), these strikes aimed to degrade Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the strait, a key concern for British and international trade. Iranian state media reported explosions near the port city of Bandar Abbas and on the Gulf island of Qeshm, close to the strait, prompting Iranian forces to launch a drone attack on a US-hosting military base in Jordan.
President Trump had previously made similar threats in March, indicating he would 'obliterate' Iran's power stations and fresh water plants if peace terms were not agreed 'shortly'. Targeting civilian infrastructure such as power and water facilities is widely considered a violation of international humanitarian law and could constitute a war crime, according to legal experts.
The current tensions have effectively dismantled a fragile ceasefire established on 17 June, which had aimed to de-escalate hostilities. The US decision to renew the blockade was described by Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, as having 'dismantled the Islamabad memorandum.' When questioned about the duration of the US strikes, President Trump stated they would continue 'until I say it's enough.'
President Trump recently reversed a plan to impose a 20% security fee on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, just hours before it was due to take effect. He attributed this U-turn to 'highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership,' stating that it would be replaced by 'massive' investment and trade deals with Gulf Arab states. The ongoing US blockade on Iranian ports remains in place, causing concerns among UK shipping companies and traders reliant on the Strait of Hormuz.