Trump threatens new strikes on Iran's power plants and bridges, says Tehran 'negotiated too long'
The US president said he is close to ordering attacks on Iranian power plants and bridges, accusing Tehran of dragging out peace negotiations after a week of renewed military exchanges.
Trump's threat
President Donald Trump told Fox News on Wednesday that he is "close to issuing an order for new strikes on power plants and bridges in Iran," arguing that authorities in Tehran have taken too long to reach a peace agreement. The statement follows a series of posts on Truth Social in which Trump declared the Iranian military to be in "total disarray" and warned that Iran will now "have to pay the price."
Iran's military is in total disarray. [...] Iran only talks and does nothing. The bully of the Middle East is DEAD. They took too long negotiating a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!
Asked about recent Iranian attacks on American military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain â retaliation for US strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz â Trump said Iran had a chance to sign an agreement and survive, and that the United States may carry out further attacks due to the slow pace of negotiations.
The escalation sequence
The renewed threats come after a sharp exchange of blows between the US and Iran on Tuesday and Wednesday. The trigger was Iran's downing of an American Apache helicopter on Monday. The US military subsequently struck Iranian targets, including air defence systems and radars, near the Persian Gulf in southern Iran. Iran responded with drone attacks on American forces in Bahrain and missile strikes on US military facilities in Jordan. Kuwait also reported intercepting Iranian missiles.
- Trump says he is a step away from a peace deal with Iran, predicts agreement within two to three days.
- Iran downs a US Apache helicopter.
- US strikes Iranian air defence systems and radars near the Persian Gulf in southern Iran.
- Iran launches drone attacks on US forces in Bahrain and missile strikes on US facilities in Jordan; Kuwait reports intercepting Iranian missiles.
- Trump posts on Truth Social that Iran 'negotiated too long' and will 'pay the price.'
- Trump tells Fox News he is close to ordering new strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges.
A broken truce
The broader conflict between the US and Israel on one side and Iran on the other began on 28 February. A ceasefire took effect on 8 April, but the truce has now been shattered by the latest round of hostilities. As recently as Monday, Trump had said he was a step away from reaching an agreement with Iran, predicting it would be concluded within two to three days. That optimism has since evaporated.
Market reaction
Oil prices rose following Trump's remarks. Brent crude, the global benchmark, climbed 1.9 percent to $93.15 per barrel. US West Texas Intermediate also gained 1.9 percent, reaching $89.91. The rise in crude contributed to an uptick in US bond yields, with two-year Treasury yields increasing by 1.2 basis points to 4.15 percent. Market attention will now shift to US inflation data for May, due at 14:30 Polish time.
- Brent crude
- 93.15 $/bbl
- WTI
- 89.91 $/bbl
What comes next
Trump did not elaborate on the timing or scale of the potential new strikes. His Fox News interview and social media posts leave open the question of whether the threats are a negotiating tactic or a prelude to immediate military action. With the April ceasefire in tatters and both sides trading fire across the Gulf, the window for a diplomatic resolution appears to be narrowing.
