Trump Threatens to Bomb Iranian Infrastructure Over Strait of Hormuz Attacks

President Donald Trump vowed on July 22, 2026, that the United States will bomb an Iranian bridge or power plant—including those in Tehran—every time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The military threat, delivered via a Truth Social post, intensifies tensions following the collapse of a ceasefire and the deaths of three American service members, according to CNBC reporting.

Trump Threatens Infrastructure Strikes in Iran

Trump specified that potential targets include infrastructure located next to or inside the Iranian capital. From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz using a missile, rocket, drone, or any other device, the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant, Trump stated on Truth Social, as cited by CNBC. Central Command struck Iranian targets for an 11th straight night to clear the vital oil shipping route. Centcom confirmed hitting military operations centers, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure. According to an unnamed Iranian military source speaking to the state-run Tasnim News Agency and cited by CNBC, Iran would respond by striking infrastructure and bridges in the region, including energy facilities where the United States has interests, if Washington carries out the bombing threats. The source added that Iran remains determined to control passage through the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining that ships would only be allowed to pass safely if their transit is coordinated with Tehran under Iranian arrangements.

Diplomatic Stance and Regional Stakes

Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the Philippines on July 22, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of not being serious about reaching a diplomatic deal. Rubio pointed out that a primary sticking point is Iran’s demand for the right to control traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a claim unsupported by international law, according to CNBC.

Rubio warned that allowing a nation-state to control an international waterway, charge tolls, and attack ships that do not pay would set a dangerous precedent. In separate comments later that day, Rubio reiterated that Washington remains open to a diplomatic settlement if Iran stops sponsoring terrorism and abandons its pursuit of nuclear weapons, CNBC reported.