Trump threatens Iran: For every ship attacked, a bridge or power plant will be bombed; Iran warns of retaliation against US interests and facilities, "No one should think of selling oil"

The US-Iran conflict is escalating further along the path of "attacks on ships—strikes on infrastructure—retaliation against US interests—threats to oil supply."

According to Xinhua News Agency, on Wednesday the 22nd, US President Trump stated that from now on, each time Iran opens fire on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the US will bomb and destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant. The Iranian military forcefully responded, asserting that if the US strikes Iranian bridges or power plants, Iran will retaliate by targeting infrastructure related to US interests in the region, such as energy facilities.

On the same day, US Secretary of State Rubio stated that the US is still willing to negotiate with Iran, but if Iran continues to threaten the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the US military operations will continue. The Iranian side emphasized that it has the ability to strike at “any target it wishes” and will not allow the Strait of Hormuz to become a tool for threatening Iran again. Iranian Parliament Speaker Qalibaf issued a more market-shocking warning: either everyone can sell oil, or no one can.

As Trump extends US strike targets from military installations to bridges, power plants, and other infrastructure, the logic of US-Iran retaliatory conflict is notably escalating. Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki also stated that Iran has the capability to overtaken US military bases in Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain, and warned Ukraine not to provide drones to Middle Eastern countries or the US; otherwise, Ukraine’s military facilities and President Zelensky’s residence could become "legitimate targets."

Trump warns Iran not to open fire on ships in the Strait of Hormuz; US may strike Tehran

On the 22nd, Trump posted on social media that if Iran opens fire on ships in the Strait of Hormuz—regardless of whether missiles, rockets, drones, or other weapons are used—the US will "bomb and destroy a bridge or power plant."

Trump specifically emphasized that the targeted facility could be located within Tehran or near the capital.

This statement indicates that US threats to strike at Iranian military targets and related military installations are further expanding to include transportation and energy infrastructure.

Trump's threat came as US Central Command had just completed a new round of strikes on Iranian military targets, with US military operations against Iran continuing for multiple nights. According to the US, the military operations aim to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and control the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz has become the current flashpoint at the core of the US-Iran conflict.

The US insists that Iran cannot restrict international commercial shipping using force, threats, or fees; Iran emphasizes that the security of the Strait of Hormuz must be under Iranian leadership and requires passing ships to coordinate with Iran.

Iranian military: Iran has a “steely will” to control the Strait

According to Xinhua News Agency citing Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, an Iranian military source stated on the 22nd that if the US strikes Iranian bridges or power plants, Iran will retaliate by targeting energy and other infrastructure linked to US interests in the region.

The source said that, over the past ten days, "the US should have realized that Iran is capable of striking any target it wants."

The Iranian side also stated that, when it comes to exercising control over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has a “steely will” and will not allow the strait to become a tool for threatening Iran again.

The Iranian military declared that ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz can do so safely if they coordinate and accept Iranian arrangements; otherwise, Iran will "resolutely exercise its control over the strait."

This means that Trump's threat of “reciprocal retaliation” has been swiftly met with a counter-response from Iran.

If the US strikes Iranian bridges and power plants, Iran may target US energy, military logistics, and other related facilities in the Middle East for retaliation. As both sides continue to expand the scope of potential targets, there is a risk that the conflict could spill over from the security of Strait of Hormuz shipping to the entire Gulf region's infrastructure network.

Iranian Parliament Speaker: If Iran cannot sell oil, no one else should expect to sell oil either

Compared to the Iranian military's threat of retaliation against US infrastructure, the latest statements from Iranian Parliament Speaker Qalibaf directly point the risk of escalation toward the global oil supply.

According to reports, Qalibaf posted on social media on the 22nd: "The logic of this war is very clear—either everyone can sell oil, or no one can. If we are unable to sell oil in this region, other countries should not expect to sell either."

Qalibaf also stated that if Iran's security is not guaranteed, no infrastructure will be safe.

He also said that the security of the Strait of Hormuz depends on the absence of US military deployment in the region—and reiterated that the strait will not return to its pre-war status.

"Hormuz will not return to pre-war status" means that the signals Iran is sending are not just short-term military threats.

From the Iranian statements, even if the current military conflict eventually cools down, the rules for navigation, military presence, and the energy transport pattern in the Strait of Hormuz are all likely to change for the long term.

Rubio: The US is still willing to negotiate, but violations must have “consequences”

In addition to Trump’s tough threats, US Secretary of State Rubio stated on the 22nd at an ASEAN-related meeting in the Philippines that the US remains willing to negotiate with Iran, but only if Iran fulfills its commitments.

Rubio warned that if Iran continues to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the US will continue to take military action.

"We are willing to negotiate, but if Iran continues to violate its commitments, there will be consequences," Rubio said.

Rubio also mentioned that some countries have expressed interest in joining efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, but due to domestic legislative or international organizational authorization issues, have not formally joined such operations yet.

He stated that the US does not require other countries to participate, but believes their involvement would be "beneficial," noting that some countries have special capabilities such as mine-sweeping. Rubio also emphasized that a significant portion of oil and energy transported through the Strait of Hormuz ultimately goes to Asia, so Asian countries also have an interest in safeguarding navigation security.

Regarding China, Rubio remarked that China publicly opposes transit fees or restrictions on freedom of navigation for commercial shipping, and that this position is "very important." As for reports that Russia and other countries might provide Iran with intelligence on targets, Rubio did not directly respond.

Notably, Rubio also accused Iran of sending Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel to Yemen and stated that Iran's actions were fueling a new round of conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

This means that, from the US perspective, Iran’s activities in the Strait of Hormuz and the actions of the Houthis in the Red Sea are creating broader regional pressure.

Former Iranian Foreign Minister: Iran has the capability to seize US military bases in the Gulf region

Iran’s tough statements are not limited to the Strait of Hormuz.

According to CCTV, former Iranian Foreign Minister and current member of the Iranian Islamic Consultative Assembly, Mottaki, responded to US threats of a ground operation against Iran by saying that Iran has ground combat capabilities and the ability to seize US military bases in countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Mottaki also claimed that local populations in these areas might support actions by Iranian forces.

If this threat were to materialize as actual military action, the US-Iran conflict could escalate from airstrikes, missiles, and drone confrontations to direct ground threats against US military bases in the Middle East.

Currently, the US has a large military presence in the Gulf region; the military facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and other Gulf states constitute a key logistics and command network for US forces in the Middle East. Iran has previously demonstrated its capability to strike US military facilities with missiles and drones.

Iran warns Ukraine: providing drones will make its facilities targets for strikes

Mottaki has also issued warnings to Ukraine.

According to CCTV, he stated that Ukraine should not continue providing drones to Middle Eastern countries and the US; otherwise, Ukraine’s military facilities and President Zelensky's residence could become “legitimate strike targets.”

This statement further broadens the geographical scope of Iran’s explicit threats.

In Iran’s view, any country providing military support to the US and its allies may be included among potential targets. This reflects Iran’s attempt to deter further direct or indirect international participation in US actions in the Middle East by expanding the scope of its deterrence.

However, Mottaki’s statements reflect the public comments of a former foreign minister and current parliamentarian, not formal military decisions by the Iranian government. What is most worth watching is whether this type of threat will be adopted into Iran’s official military and diplomatic policy.

Outlook for US-Iran negotiations remains under pressure, Strait of Hormuz becomes the “trigger” for conflict escalation

As military threats continue to escalate, diplomatic space between the US and Iran is narrowing.

Trump previously stated that Iran is "eager to meet," but the US is not interested in talks until Iran is ready for "meaningful negotiations." On the 22nd, Rubio reiterated that the US is not closing the door to negotiations, but US military actions will not automatically end because Iran says it is willing to negotiate.

The problem is that there is a clear gap in how the US and Iran understand the “preconditions” for negotiation.

The US demands that Iran stop threatening navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and accept US-proposed arrangements; while Iran believes US military strikes are the real root cause of regional insecurity and insists on leading the strait’s control.

In this context, any attack on ships in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger the kind of infrastructure strikes threatened by Trump; and any US strike on Iranian bridges, power plants, or similar facilities may prompt Iranian retaliation against US and regional ally infrastructure.

The US-Iran conflict is developing into a dangerous escalation cycle: shipping incidents trigger military strikes, which widen the target scope to infrastructure, and such infrastructure attacks could prompt broader regional retaliation.

For energy markets, the ongoing escalation of risk in the Strait of Hormuz means that the global oil and gas supply chain will continue to face significant uncertainties. If the strait's issue evolves from “shipping disruption” into large-scale military confrontation, the resulting shocks will go far beyond just US-Iran relations, potentially sending rapid ripple effects to global energy prices, inflation outlooks, and financial markets.