Trump vows to destroy one Iranian bridge or power plant for every shot Tehran takes at Strait of Hormuz shipping

WASHINGTON — President Trump announced a new red line against Iran Wednesday, vowing to obliterate critical civilian infrastructure in the Islamic Republic for every attack against vessels in the Strait of Hormuz — prompting Iranian state media to declare it was ready to set American troops “on fire” and “punish their regional partners forever.” “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 proclaimed on Truth Social. Iran swiftly fired back through state-affiliated media. The US destroyed a bridge in Hormozgan province in July. Getty Images “If the Americans attack a bridge or power station in Iran, we will respond by striking infrastructure and bridges in the region, including energy facilities in which the United States has interests,” an Iranian military source told the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Tasnim News. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added that Tehran’s “defense doctrine is clear: eye for an eye.” “Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response,” he posted to X. “Those who contribute to such aggression, whatever the kind of support, will also be considered as legitimate targets.” Explore More United Cajun Navy sets the record straight on how Nolan Wells’ body was found: ‘Families deserve the truth’ NJ couple loses their two children after Jersey Shore boating trip with grandparents ends in tragedy: reports Grim final photo shows 5 friends fishing moments before they all drowned in Ohio river tragedy But Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued Tuesday that allowing Iran to hold hostage the Strait of Hormuz could encourage other countries to do the same with similar critical waterways, pledging the US would continue degrading Tehran’s ability to threaten maritime traffic. “If we create a precedent in the Middle East where a nation-state can decide that they are going to control an international waterway, charge a toll, and if you don’t pay them, blow up your ships, we have created a very dangerous precedent which will repeat itself in other parts of the world, including in this region,” Rubio said Wednesday at the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Manila. Asia is home to many critical waterways — such as the Strait of Malacca and the Taiwan Strait — that currently operate toll-free. Follow The Post’s coverage of the war in Iran: Trump vows to destroy one Iranian bridge or power plant for every shot Tehran takes at Strait of Hormuz shipping Rubio says US remains open to Iran talks but warns there ‘will be consequences’ Fourth soldier believed to be killed in Iran attack ID’d as New Yorker – as US launches latest rounds of strikes Trump warns Iran of much greater destruction if war continues: ‘They haven’t seen anything yet’ Rubio said the US will continue escorting and defending commercial shipping in the region regardless of whether allies contribute, though he urged other countries to do more. “We’re going to continue to protect shipping,” Rubio said. “We think other countries should join us in that endeavor. We don’t need them to, but they should because they’re more impacted by it than we are.” Their remarks came a day after Trump said the US would “very probably” strike Iran’s underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility near Natanz, about 120 miles south of Tehran. “We’ll be hitting that area very probably pretty soon, and there’s not a thing they can do about it,” he told reporters. President Trump vowed to obliterate critical civilian infrastructure in Iran for every attack against vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. AARON SCHWARTZ/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock “Normally I wouldn’t say that; if I thought they could do something about it I would never say that, but we’ll be hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily.” Iranian state television responded with its own warning. “We have been waiting for this moment for years. Come on, we are ready for you,” Iranian state TV said Wednesday, according to The Hormuz Letter. The broadcaster added that it would create “a historic hell for the Americans on Iranian soil.” Iran has repeatedly targeted commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil normally flows, since the launch of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28. Iran last month agreed to a temporary truce , but Trump has since declared it “over” after Tehran continued attacking shipping . On July 7, Iran again struck commercial vessels, badly damaging a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker and hitting a British ship. Trump responded by ordering dozens of strikes on Iranian targets. Tuesday night marked the 11th straight day of US strikes , hitting command centers, military infrastructure and drone facilities, while Iran has retaliated with attacks on American outposts that killed four US service members over the weekend . Trump’s Wednesday threat came ahead of his trip to Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of four American service members who were killed by Iran. Meanwhile, the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have threatened to blockade the Bab al-Mandeb Strait , another strategic chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.