US-Iran brinkmanship escalates with Trump's bridge-and-power-plant threat

Trump threatens to destroy Iranian infrastructure for each ship attacked in Hormuz, as Rubio says Iran is not serious about talks.

US-Iran brinkmanship escalates with Trump's bridge-and-power-plant threat — US President Donald Trump escalated his threats against Iran this afternoon, announcing that for every ship attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, the US will destroy a bridge or power plant in Iran, including in Tehran.[^1] "From now on, every time the Islamic Republic of Iran fires on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz... the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or one power plant," Trump wrote on social media.[^2] The announcement came hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated at the ASEAN summit that strikes on Iran aim to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that "the problem right now is that Iran is not serious about talks."[^3] The widening conflict has already cost US taxpayers at least $37.5 billion, resulted in 18 US deaths, and injured over 450 troops, according to Pentagon figures.[^4] Iran's Health Ministry reported that 53 people have been killed and 592 wounded in US strikes since June 27.[^5] Trump will attend a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday for four US service members killed in Iranian attacks, underscoring the human toll.[^6] The European Union today issued an unusual warning to merchant vessels with ties to Israel, the US, or Saudi Arabia, calling on them to avoid sailing in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.[^7] Meanwhile, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has prohibited airlines from operating flights in Jordan's airspace until August 31, 2026, after at least six ballistic missiles were fired toward Jordan in the past 24 hours.[^8] Jordan is considering expelling Iranian diplomats in response to recent missile strikes on its territory. Rubio also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila, with Iran and Taiwan reportedly in focus. The diplomatic moves come as Lebanese analysts from Al-Nashra warned that a possible Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear and oil facilities could become a point of no return and provoke an international conflict. Teen Suspect Named in Jerusalem Murder as Police Seek Public's Help — Border Police officers last night discovered a donkey tied up in the trunk o