US President Donald Trump has threatened to launch fresh attacks on Iran's bridges and power plants as early as next week unless Tehran agrees to return to negotiations, escalating tensions as fighting between the two countries entered its fourth straight day.
Speaking during an interview with Fox News that aired on Tuesday night, Trump warned that Iran faced more military action if it failed to resume talks with the United States.
"Next week it gets really bad for them," Trump said. "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 said, repeating earlier threats that had previously drawn condemnation from United Nations officials.
The latest warning came after Trump abandoned a proposed 20% charge on all cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the United States resumed its blockade of Iranian ports, adding fresh pressure on Tehran.
Shipping data shows traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed sharply as the conflict continues, with oil prices also climbing following renewed attacks between the two countries.
Trump also indicated that energy facilities could eventually become targets.
"I'll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we'll hit energy targets," Trump said during the interview on "Special Report with Bret Baier."
He added that American negotiators had delivered a warning to Iranian officials on Tuesday evening.
"They 'better make a deal, or you're not going to have anything left'," Trump said.
The renewed threats follow remarks Trump made in April about bombing Iran's civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants. At the time, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said: "Under international law, deliberately attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime."
The 1949 Geneva Conventions also prohibit attacks on facilities considered essential for civilians during armed conflict.
Trump's latest comments came hours after he announced that the proposed shipping fee through the Strait of Hormuz would instead be replaced by what he described as "massive" trade and investment agreements with Gulf states.
Despite that announcement, US Central Command said late Tuesday that American forces had launched another round of strikes against Iran.
In a statement, US Admiral Brad Cooper said the attacks were aimed at weakening Iran's ability to target commercial shipping.
He also accused Iran of attacking civilian vessels.
"Iran had intentionally targeted civilians" by attacking seven commercial ships, resulting in "nearly a dozen civilian crew members killed, missing, or injured," Cooper said.
The United Arab Emirates said Iranian cruise missiles struck two of its tankers on Monday night, killing one Indian crew member and injuring eight others, four of them seriously.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later confirmed carrying out the strikes through a statement posted on Telegram. It claimed the two tankers had ignored warnings, switched off their navigation systems and attempted to pass through a mined route.
It was not immediately clear which other attacks were being referred to in the US military statement, and the IRGC did not comment further.
As the conflict widened, Kuwait said its air defence systems intercepted Iranian attack drones early Wednesday, while Bahrain activated air raid sirens.
"Kuwaiti air defences are currently engaging hostile drone attacks following the nefarious Iranian aggression," the Kuwaiti military said.
Bahrain's Interior Ministry urged residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location.
Tehran said on Tuesday that it had targeted US military facilities in Bahrain and Jordan after earlier striking two UAE tankers.
The latest developments have once again highlighted the importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. Iran has accused the United States of interfering in its management, while Washington argues it is protecting international shipping.
On Monday, Trump declared that the United States was now the "guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz and had initially proposed a 20% charge on cargo passing through the waterway to help cover security costs.
He later announced that the fee would no longer be imposed.
"I have decided to replace the 20% United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States.
"Those Investments will be MASSIVE but, at the same time, extraordinarily good for them, and their future."
Trump did not provide further details on the proposed agreements.
He also wrote that the strait "is open to ALL Ship traffic except for Iran" and that "oil is flowing like never before, thanks to the awesome Power of the United States Military".
Later, after meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in Washington, Trump explained why he had dropped the shipping charge.
"I don't like the concept of a fee, but at the same time, it's not fair that we're protecting this Strait for the entire world."
He said Gulf leaders had contacted him, prompting the change in approach.
Iran dismissed the latest US measures, insisting it would continue to control the Strait of Hormuz.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the renewed blockade had effectively ended an earlier truce agreement between the two countries.
"If the US thinks that by tightening its measures against us, its military actions and its economic blockade, we will return to negotiations, it is making a mistake," Gharibabadi told state television.
The United States first imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports in April before lifting it in June under a memorandum of understanding aimed at easing tensions. The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz has since become one of the main issues driving the latest escalation.
Shipping activity through the waterway has now fallen to its lowest level in two months, while benchmark Brent crude oil prices continue to rise as the conflict shows no sign of easing.