U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his threats against Iran on Thursday, vowing further attacks on civilian infrastructure following a U.S. strike that destroyed a newly built highway bridge between Tehran and Karaj. The strike, part of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign in Iran, prompted an immediate and forceful response from Iran, which targeted a water and power plant in Kuwait and warned that more attacks would follow.
Trump shared footage of the B1 bridge crumbling under the strikes on social media, writing, “Our Military, the greatest and most powerful (by far!) anywhere in the World, hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran. Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants!” The post reflects the president’s continued focus on degrading Iran’s infrastructure as a central part of his military strategy.
Iran responded swiftly, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declaring that it would strike “all assets of the Israeli regime and the U.S. in fuel, energy, economic centres, and power plants across the region.” Iranian officials also warned that countries hosting U.S. bases in the region would face consequences unless they removed their forces. Tehran further claimed to have shot down a U.S. F-35 fighter jet over central Iran, though the U.S. military had no immediate comment.
The escalation underscores the growing danger to civilian infrastructure and the broader humanitarian implications of the conflict. On Friday, an Iranian attack on a water desalination and power plant in Kuwait caused significant material damage, according to the country’s electricity and water ministry. The facility supplies critical water resources to the Kuwaiti population, highlighting the vulnerability of Gulf nations that rely heavily on desalination for drinking water.
Nearly five weeks into the U.S.-Israeli campaign, the conflict has already killed thousands and displaced millions, while the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping lane, remains partially blocked. Iran’s ability to control the strait has disrupted oil and gas supplies, sending ripples through global markets.
Trump has repeatedly emphasized urgency, warning that Iran’s leadership “knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!” Yet Tehran shows little sign of compliance. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi condemned the targeting of civilian infrastructure, stating, “Striking civilian structures, including unfinished bridges, will not compel Iranians to surrender.”
Iranian media have reported daily attacks on civilian sites, including schools, health facilities, and pharmaceutical suppliers. The Pasteur Institute, a century-old research facility in central Tehran, was severely damaged during Thursday’s strikes, according to Iran’s Health Ministry. Meanwhile, a drone attack on a Red Crescent relief warehouse in Bushehr province, near Iran’s first nuclear power plant, further highlighted the conflict’s reach into essential civilian services.
Legal experts are raising concerns over potential violations of international humanitarian law. More than 100 American scholars specializing in international law have stated that U.S. strikes and official statements “raise serious concerns about violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including potential war crimes.” The destruction of critical infrastructure, including water, power, and transport facilities, may disproportionately affect civilian populations, which international law seeks to protect.
Beyond the immediate human impact, the war is having profound economic consequences. Attacks on infrastructure in Iran and neighboring Gulf countries threaten oil and gas shipments vital to the global economy. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, has seen severely restricted traffic. Limited transit has disrupted global energy markets and pressured shipping, fertilizer, and other critical commodity supplies, raising concerns over potential humanitarian crises in developing nations in Asia and Africa.
On Friday, some vessels transited the strait, including a container ship belonging to the French shipping company CMA CGM and a liquefied natural gas vessel owned by Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines, suggesting Iran may not view certain nations as hostile. These movements offered temporary relief for global markets, though energy prices remained volatile. U.S. benchmark crude surged 11% on Thursday following Trump’s televised statements, reflecting the uncertainty over the conflict’s duration and intensity.
International diplomatic efforts to restore navigation and stability have so far been limited. On Thursday, Britain chaired a virtual meeting with approximately 40 nations to explore strategies for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but the meeting failed to produce a specific agreement. Tehran has proposed a licensing scheme with Oman that would require ships to obtain permits to transit the strait, a measure unlikely to be accepted by other global stakeholders. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that “international law doesn’t recognise pay-to-pass schemes,” highlighting the legal dispute over Iran’s control plans.
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on Saturday on a Bahraini resolution aimed at protecting commercial shipping in and around the strait. However, China, a veto-wielding member, expressed opposition, with envoy Fu Cong stating that military intervention “would inevitably lead to further escalation of the situation and lead to serious consequences,” cautioning against legitimizing the use of force.
As the conflict continues, the impact on civilian populations, regional stability, and global markets remains severe. Gulf countries face heightened vulnerabilities due to reliance on desalination and energy infrastructure, while international legal experts warn that targeting civilian objects may constitute war crimes. Meanwhile, energy and shipping disruptions threaten the global economy, underscoring the far-reaching consequences of the ongoing U.S.-Iran war.
The strategic, economic, and humanitarian stakes have never been higher, with both sides exchanging strikes and threats. The coming weeks are likely to determine whether the conflict escalates further, whether international diplomatic efforts can succeed, and how global markets and populations will navigate the mounting crisis.
