Trump says US will hit Iranian infrastructure after every attack on ships in Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has sharply escalated Washington's rhetoric against Tehran, declaring that the United States will destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant every time Iran attacks a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

The warning marks one of the strongest public threats yet against Iran's civilian infrastructure, signalling a shift toward a doctrine of automatic retaliation as fighting in the Gulf enters its fifth month.

Posting on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said any Iranian attack on ships transiting the strategic waterway—whether by missile, drone or rocket—would trigger immediate US strikes on infrastructure, including targets in or near Tehran.

The statement comes as the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes, has become the focal point of the widening US-Iran confrontation. Repeated attacks on shipping have heightened concerns over global energy supplies and regional stability, with oil prices already responding to the deteriorating security environment.

More from World

Washington mixes military pressure with diplomatic outreach

While Trump's remarks highlighted an increasingly hardline approach, senior US officials maintained that diplomacy remains on the table.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remained willing to negotiate with Tehran but accused Iran of showing little seriousness in pursuing a diplomatic settlement.

The contrasting messages illustrate the Biden... (correction: Trump's) administration's twin-track strategy—maintaining military pressure while leaving open the possibility of negotiations through intermediaries.

The latest warning follows continued US military operations targeting Iranian positions around the Gulf. On Wednesday, Iranian media reported that a US missile struck Larak Island, while the Pentagon confirmed another night of strikes aimed at degrading Iran's capability to threaten maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has also revived attention on Pickaxe Mountain, also known as Kolang Mountain near Natanz, an underground site that Western intelligence agencies suspect could house an undeclared uranium enrichment facility. Tehran has dismissed those allegations, insisting no nuclear activity is taking place there and warning that any attack would significantly broaden the conflict.

Regional tensions spill beyond the Strait of Hormuz

The military confrontation is increasingly spilling across the wider Gulf region.

Iranian drones and missiles prompted air defence responses in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, while Tehran claimed it had targeted US military assets and radar installations in several neighbouring countries. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have also threatened to blockade Saudi ports, raising fears that another maritime chokepoint could become a battlefield.

Although the Houthis have yet to resume attacks on shipping, the threat alone has rattled energy markets. Brent crude climbed above $95 a barrel after reports that tankers altered their routes in response to the deteriorating security situation.

The escalation also carries domestic political implications for Trump. With congressional elections approaching, the administration faces mounting scrutiny over the financial and strategic costs of the conflict. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently said the war has already cost the United States $37.5 billion, while critics argue that prolonged military engagement risks drawing Washington deeper into another open-ended conflict in West Asia.

Trump, however, has shown little sign of backing down. His latest warning suggests the administration intends to respond to future attacks with increasingly direct and visible retaliation, raising concerns that each incident in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a fresh cycle of escalation with consequences extending well beyond the Gulf.

With inputs from agencies