Trump Threatens Wider Offensive Against Iran if Nuclear Talks Stall
United States President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could expand its military campaign against Iran by striking key civilian infrastructure if Tehran refuses to resume negotiations.
Speaking in a televised interview on Tuesday, Trump said the United States was prepared to target Iran’s power plants and bridges in the coming days unless its leaders agreed to return to the negotiating table.
The warning came as U.S. forces continued military operations against Iranian targets for a fourth straight day while maintaining a naval blockade around Iranian ports along the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas shipments.
According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the latest strikes were intended to reduce Iran’s capability to launch attacks on commercial vessels navigating the strategic waterway.
Iranian media reported explosions in and around Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island and other locations following the attacks.
In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched strikes on facilities linked to the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, claiming to have targeted command centres, logistics hubs, fuel depots and military equipment.
The conflict also spilled into neighbouring countries. Authorities in Jordan said air defence systems intercepted three ballistic missiles that entered the country’s airspace, while Iranian state media reported a drone attack on a military base in Jordan used by U.S. forces.
Iran warned that any attempt to restrict its access to the Strait of Hormuz or disrupt its energy exports could trigger broader consequences for regional shipping, insisting that no country should expect unrestricted access if Iran’s exports were blocked.
Trump also announced that he had dropped plans to impose a 20 per cent security charge on vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, saying the decision followed discussions with Gulf Arab leaders. He added, however, that the blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place.
The latest escalation has cast further doubt on efforts to revive diplomatic talks and preserve the fragile ceasefire reached in June, with both Washington and Tehran continuing to exchange military threats as tensions across the Middle East deepen.
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