Trump vows to hit Iranian infrastructure for each Hormuz attack

President Donald Trump warned Iran on Wednesday that the United States will strike one Iranian bridge or power plant for every attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Fox News. The threat came hours after the U.S. military completed its 11th consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, with oil prices surging past $95 a barrel as the conflict shows no signs of abating.U.S. Central Command+2

Escalating Strikes and Infrastructure Threats

U.S. Central Command said it completed the 11th night of strikes at 8:15 p.m. ET on July 21, targeting "Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure". The strikes aimed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the strait, CENTCOM said.Iran International+2

The latest threat marks a return to Trump's recurring warnings about targeting civilian infrastructure. The president has repeatedly threatened Iranian bridges and power plants since March, when he first issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Iran reopen the strait. In a Fox News interview last week, Trump said the U.S. would "knock out all their power plants" and "knock out all their bridges" unless Iran returned to negotiations.1lurer.am+3

Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said Iran "desperately" wants to meet but that the U.S. has "no interest in meeting" until Tehran is ready for "meaningful" talks, according to the Associated Press. He also signaled that strikes could soon target an area near one of Iran's primary nuclear enrichment facilities.CityNews Toronto

Oil Markets and Regional Fallout

Brent crude broke above $95 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since June 11, rising more than 4% as the escalation rattled energy markets. Oil prices have climbed roughly 20% this month as Washington and Tehran continue exchanging fire. Goldman Sachs The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. ↗ 1.16% analysts warned Brent could rise above $120 a barrel by the fourth quarter if Middle East supply risks intensify.share-talk.com+1

The AP reported that Iran attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, forcing its crew to abandon the ship, while also launching attacks against Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have opened a new front by declaring a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.CityNews Toronto

Diplomacy Stalls

Diplomatic efforts have struggled to keep pace with the fighting. Iran's interior minister visited Pakistan on Tuesday seeking to revive negotiations, meeting with the country's army chief and prime minister. Pakistan brokered last month's interim agreement between the two sides, but the deal collapsed after Iran resumed attacks on ships in the strait.CityNews Toronto

The Pentagon said the war has cost U.S. taxpayers at least $37.5 billion, with 18 troops killed and more than 450 injured. The number of wounded has grown to over 500, a U.S. official told the AP, higher than the Pentagon's official tally.anewz.tv+1