President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Wednesday, declaring that the United States would dramatically escalate its military response if Iranian forces target ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a morning post on Truth Social, Trump said any future attack by the Islamic Republic of Iran on vessels in the strategic waterway would be met with the destruction of key Iranian infrastructure.
“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 wrote.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The warning marks Trump’s latest public statement as fighting between the United States and Iran continues following the renewed conflict earlier this month.
According to the article, the war reignited after Iran attacked a Cyprus-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz. That attack prompted retaliatory strikes by the U.S. military, which have continued since then.
The United States carried out its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian targets on Tuesday, underscoring the ongoing military campaign.
The conflict has also resulted in American casualties. An Iranian attack on a military base in Jordan on July 17 killed three U.S. service members, bringing the Operation Epic Fury death toll to 18, according to the article.
In a separate Truth Social post Wednesday morning, Trump announced he was traveling to attend the dignified transfer of two of the fallen American troops.
The president’s latest warning came just one day after a tense exchange with ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce during a White House press conference, where the ongoing war with Iran became the focus of questioning.
Bruce asked Trump whether there were any signs that Iran was prepared to end the fighting.
“Mr. President, there are no signs that Iran is ready to stop fighting, so what is the plan?” she asked. “Is the plan to just keep fighting until they give up?”
Trump immediately challenged the premise of the question.
“How would you know there are no signs?” he responded. “Why, do you know something that I don’t know?”
Bruce began to answer by saying Iran continued to attack U.S. allies and kill Americans, but Trump interrupted before she could finish.
“You don’t know what the dialogue is behind the scenes,” the president said. “They want to meet desperately to try and end it, because they’re getting decimated.”
Trump also criticized ABC News during the exchange.
“You don’t get that when you’re listening to your fake station, but you don’t know anything,” he told Bruce.
The remarks reflected the administration’s position that diplomatic discussions may be taking place privately despite the continued military operations.
Trump’s latest Truth Social message, however, made clear that any future attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz would trigger an immediate U.S. response directed at Iranian infrastructure.
Under the policy outlined by the president, every missile, rocket, drone, or other weapon fired by Iran at a ship in the vital waterway would result in the United States bombing one bridge or one power plant inside Iran, including facilities located near or within the capital city of Tehran.
The warning comes as U.S. military operations against Iran continue for an 11th straight night and tensions between the two countries remain elevated.
[READ MORE: Trump Vows Heavy Strike on Iran’s Deep-Underground Nuclear Facility]
