Iran’s Unprecedented Warning to the US: Destruction of All Regional Infrastructure in Case of Attack

On July 16, 2026, tensions between Tehran and Washington reached a critical stage. Following recent threats by US President Donald Trump to target Iranian power plants and bridges if the country does not return to the negotiating table, military officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran issued a severe warning. Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced that if the US damages Iranian infrastructure, Tehran will destroy all remaining infrastructure in the region with “steel strikes” [1][2].

Reciprocal Threat: Infrastructure for Infrastructure The Iranian military spokesperson described Trump’s threats as “hollow claims,” emphasizing that Iran’s strategic patience has ended. Zolfaghari warned that Iran’s reaction would not merely be a counter-strike, but a “superior, broader, and more destructive” blow that would leave no trace of enemy infrastructure in the region [2][3]. These statements come after Trump previously stated in an interview that if Iran does not accept a new agreement, the US military will target the country’s energy plants and bridges every night [4][5].

Diplomatic Deadlock and Continued CENTCOM Attacks Field reports indicate that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has increased its attacks on military positions in southern Iran, including Bandar Abbas and Greater Tunb Island, in recent days [3]. Washington claims these attacks aim to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. On the other hand, Iran has responded with drone attacks on US bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain [4]. Analysts believe that the failure of last month’s memorandum (June 2026), which was drafted with Pakistani mediation, has placed the two countries in a dangerous military deadlock [5].

The Hormuz Red Line and Release of Dual-National Prisoner Iran has once again emphasized that the intervention of any extra-regional power in the Strait of Hormuz is the country’s “impassable red line” [1][2]. However, amidst this harsh rhetoric, signs of back-channel diplomacy are also visible. In a move Trump called a “gesture of good faith,” Iran released Dena Karari, an Iranian-American dual citizen who had been in detention since 2024 [3][5]. Nevertheless, the US Navy’s maritime blockade of Iranian ports continues, and Washington insists on maximum pressure to change Tehran’s behavior [5].