Tension in the Middle East continues unabated, with Donald Trump warning of “hard strikes” against Iran.
More specifically, via the Truth Social platform, Trump showed video allegedly depicting the destruction of one of Iran’s largest bridges, calling on Tehran to strike a deal “before it’s too late”.
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He set the completion of military operations in two to three weeks, at which point the Straits of Hormuz are due to reopen.
“Our military is the largest and most superior by far and has not even begun to destroy what is left in Iran,” Donald Trump said in a post, adding: “The leadership of the new regime knows what needs to be done and it needs to be done quickly,” referring to a deal, while threatening again to strike energy infrastructure.
Trump: Iran is eager for a deal
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In a telephone interview the day after the address, Donald Trump told TIME magazine that Iran is eager to make a deal to end the conflict. “Why wouldn’t they call? We just blew up their three major bridges last night,” he said. “We are destroying them. They say Trump is not negotiating with Iran. I mean, it’s a rather easy negotiation.”
He said Iran is “eager” to reach an agreement to end the war. “They are very tough and capable of enduring enormous pain, and I respect them for that. The truth is that they are better at negotiating than they are at war.”
Dead and wounded in Iran bridge bombing
At least eight people were killed and 95 injured after a bridge on the highway linking Tehran to the city of Karaj was bombed, according to statements by the lieutenant governor of Alborz province, Godratollah Seif. The incident was reported by the Fars news agency and the Islamic Republic’s state television.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the disaster via the social network Truth Social, warning that Tehran must strike a deal before the country suffers irreparable damage.
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Revolutionary Guards attack data centres and threaten tech giants
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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Guards of Iran (IRGC) have announced an attack on an Amazon data centre in Bahrain, describing it as retaliation for alleged “assassinations” they attribute to US technology companies.
In a statement, the Guardians threatened 17 major companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Google, Meta, IBM, HP, Intel, Tesla, Boeing and JP Morgan, saying they were involved in monitoring and directing assassination operations. Amazon said it is cooperating with local authorities and that staff safety is a priority.
International concern over the Strait of Hormuz
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The reopening of the Straits of Hormuz has caused international concern, with around 40 countries calling for their immediate restoration. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called the US and Israeli attacks a violation of international law, discussing the issue with his counterparts from the EU, Germany and Saudi Arabia.
Military clashes in the region
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Israel is continuing military operations in Lebanon, while the Houthis in Yemen have fired a rocket at Israel, Israeli media reported. At the same time, Hezbollah rockets caused injuries and property damage in northern Israel, while Iran participated in a coordinated attack alongside its allies.
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In Iraq, a drone struck the U.S. diplomatic center at Baghdad International Airport, causing a fire without injuries.
Imminent escalation and international concerns
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The situation in the region continues to be extremely tense, with multiple countries expressing fears of further escalation. Military and diplomatic developments in the coming weeks are expected to determine the course of the Middle East crisis.
