Trump warns to ‘knock out’ Iran’s power plants and bridges if Strait of Hormuz stays closed

WASHINGTON, DC: As tensions over the Strait of Hormuz reach a new boiling point, Donald Trump has threatened to leave Iran in the dark and cripple its transport links.

The 80-year-old president escalated his pressure campaign against Iran, warning that its power grid and bridges could be the next U.S. targets unless Tehran strikes a deal.

His warning came as US forces carried out strikes against Iran for a fourth consecutive day and reimposed a naval blockade on the country's ports in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump threatens Iran's power plants and bridges

During an interview with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, Trump outlined the next phase of the military operation, saying the US would "save the energy targets for last" before adding, "ultimately we'll hit energy targets."

“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight. We’re going to hit them very hard tomorrow night. We’re going to hit them very hard the night after, and then next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants,” Trump said.

“Next week comes the bridges. We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate,” he continued.

Trump's latest warning drew attention because strikes on civilian infrastructure, including power grids and water facilities, are prohibited under international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes.

The rhetoric also echoed his stark Easter ultimatum, when he threatened to make it "Power Plant Day" and "Bridge Day" if the "crazy ones" leading Iran failed to "Open the Strait."

At the time, Trump gave Tehran until April 7 to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that "a whole civilization will die" if it refused. The pressure campaign ultimately resulted in a temporary two-week ceasefire, which Iran accepted before the deadline expired.

Trump refuses to rule out Iran ground invasion

Later in the interview, Trump refused to rule out a ground invasion of Iran, saying he would consider such action if he believed it was “appropriate.”

“Sometimes you need a ground campaign,” Trump told Yingst, who asked about using ground troops. “But we have other people who will do the ground campaign for us.”

“We already hit Kharg Island, as you know, twice, uh, even three times. I said, ‘Hit everything but the oil. Just leave that little area from 25 yards out. Leave that little area. Don’t touch the oil.’ Because I don’t want that, in terms of the world economy, it’s a—you know—it’s a chunk of the world economy, so we haven’t hit that,” he continued.

Trump also declined to say whether the US would target Kharg Island, arguing that revealing such plans "would be foolish."

Yingst then pressed the president on whether Washington could achieve its key war objectives, including curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions, weakening its military, and keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, through airstrikes alone.

“I think they are completed now, honestly,” the president said. “If we left right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild.”