Trump Threatens Iranian Power Plants and Bridges Amid Airstrikes

President Donald Trump authorized an intensification of military operations against Iran on July 14 and 15, 2026, following the collapse of a June 17 memorandum of understanding. The campaign includes a naval blockade of Iranian ports and a series of airstrikes targeting air defense systems, radar installations, and drone launch sites in Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, and Qeshm Island. Trump has threatened to expand these strikes to include power plants, bridges, and the underground Kolang Gazla facility unless Tehran agrees to negotiate.

Trump indicated he may order a ground invasion to seize Kharg Island, a critical hub for 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, if Iranian capabilities are sufficiently degraded. While U.S. forces have already struck the island, Trump noted that oil installations were deliberately spared to avoid destabilizing the global economy. He asserted that military strength is the only way to negotiate and claimed the current campaign has caused damage that would take Iran two decades to repair.

Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, and struck two vessels in Omani waters. Local authorities report that a broader U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign starting February 28 has killed more than 1,500 civilians, including 168 children at a school in Minab. Despite these hostilities, Trump confirmed that Iranian representatives contacted the U.S. on Tuesday to express a desire for a deal, though he expressed skepticism based on Iran's history of breaking agreements.