Trump threatens strikes on Iranian power plants, bridges "next week", says will not "have anybody left" without deal
Washington DC, July 15
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned that the United States would start targeting Iranian power plants and bridges "next week" as part of its border strikes on the Islamic Republic, unless Tehran returns to the negotiating table.
He further cautioned that Iran would not "have anybody left" if it failed to reach a deal with Washington.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said the United States would intensify its military campaign against Iran in the coming days unless negotiations resume.
"We're going to hit them very hard tomorrow night. We're going to hit them very hard the night after, and then next week it gets really bad for them, because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges. 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," Trump told Fox News.
Trump's remarks come as US military strikes on Iran have continued for a fourth consecutive day following the collapse of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran to end the hostilities in West Asia.
According to CNN, US and Iranian representatives remain in contact, but the Trump administration has maintained that negotiations cannot move forward while Iran continues to limit maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Asked about the duration of the military campaign, Trump said the strikes would continue until he decides otherwise.
The US President also declined to rule out the possibility of deploying American ground troops to Iran, although he indicated that he preferred other options.
"Sometimes you need a ground campaign, but we have other people that will do the ground campaign for us," Trump added.
Trump also increased pressure on Tehran to reach an agreement with Washington, warning that Iran faced severe consequences if it refused.
"You better make a deal," Trump said, adding, "You're not going to have anybody left."
Trump further stated that the US was taking precautions to minimise civilian casualties.
"We're being very careful with the civilian population," Trump said, before repeating, "But I said, you better make a deal. You're not going to have anything left."
According to Trump, the warning was conveyed during the latest communication between US representatives and Iranian officials, which he said took place "about an hour ago."
When asked whether he believed Iran would agree to a deal, Trump responded, "They should. I don't know if they will or not."
This comes after the US Central Command, earlier in the day, said that it has resumed the naval blockade targeting vessels travelling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas, hours after an "additional round of strikes" against the Islamic Republic amid the escalating tensions in West Asia.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone watching from abroad, I can't believe how reckless this is. Threatening to bomb civilian infrastructure like power plants – isn't that a war crime? And then literally saying "you won't have anybody left"? This isn't negotiation, it's extortion with bombs. 🤦♀️
The way he casually talks about destroying entire infrastructure... "next week comes the power plants, next week comes the bridges" – as if this is a movie script, not real lives. India must use its diplomatic channels to urge restraint. We cannot have another West Asia conflict, especially when our oil imports and our people are at stake.
Let's be honest – this is pure brinkmanship. Trump talks big but actually invading Iran would be a disaster beyond imagination. The US has tried ground wars in the Middle East before, and they didn't end well. Iran is not Iraq or Afghanistan. India should prepare for higher oil prices and potential supply disruptions.
While I understand the need to counter Iranian aggression in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to wipe out all power plants and bridges is devastating. Even the retired US generals I follow on TV are calling this dangerous. India should immediately convene an emergency meeting of like-minded nations to push for de-escalation. We have too much at stake here – 8 million Indians live & work in the Gulf region.
Saying "you're not going to have anybody left" is literally threatening genocide by economic collapse. Power plants means no water, no hospitals, no refrigeration for medicine. Bridges mean no food supply. This is collective punishment. International law exists for exactly this reason. Disgusting.
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