President Donald Trump said the U.S. could target every power plant and bridge in Iran starting next week if the country does not negotiate [1].
The threat represents a significant escalation in rhetoric aimed at forcing Tehran to the negotiating table and deterring the nation from rebuilding its nuclear program [1, 4].
Trump made the statements during a Sunday interview and reiterated them on Monday [2, 4]. Reports differ on the exact setting of the remarks. One account places the statement in an exclusive interview on Fox News' 'Special Report' in Washington, D.C. [1]. Another report said the president made the comments during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida [3].
The president said the U.S. would target critical infrastructure to create leverage. This strategy is intended to pressure the Iranian government to enter diplomatic discussions regarding its nuclear capabilities, and regional activities [1, 2].
Trump said the U.S. has the capacity to cause extensive damage to Iranian infrastructure if the administration's demands are not met [4]. The warnings come amid ongoing tensions regarding the stability of nuclear agreements and the potential for Iran to expand its nuclear program [4].
The White House has not provided a specific timeline for the military strikes beyond the mention of next week [1]. The administration has previously emphasized a policy of maximum pressure to achieve diplomatic concessions from Tehran [2, 4].
“Trump threatened to knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran.”
This escalation signals a return to a 'maximum pressure' campaign, utilizing the threat of kinetic strikes against non-military infrastructure to achieve diplomatic goals. By targeting power plants and bridges, the U.S. aims to degrade Iran's internal stability and logistical capabilities, thereby increasing the domestic cost for Tehran to maintain its current nuclear trajectory.
