Escalation: Trump Threatens Strikes on Iranian Infrastructure

On July 22, 2026, President Donald Trump warned that the U.S. will destroy “one bridge or power plant” in Iran for every time Iran fires at a U.S. ship in the Strait of Hormuz. He issued the threat as fighting with Iran continued.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow chokepoint at the mouth of the Persian Gulf that carries a large share of global oil shipments. U.S. officials also emphasized that Iran “does not control” the waterway.

The warning came as U.S. forces marked an 11th straight night of strikes in a war that began with “major combat operations” on February 28. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. remains open to talks but warned of consequences if Iran keeps attacking.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the war has cost about $37.5 billion so far and defended a request for more funding. Reporting varies on totals, with some tallies citing roughly $37 billion and the Pentagon’s additional ask near $60 billion.

Trump has also signaled possible strikes on Iran’s underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site, saying it could be hit “pretty soon, and very heavily.” Next up, Congress will weigh the administration’s new war-funding request while the White House ties any future ship attacks to immediate retaliation on Iranian infrastructure.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources