President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iran's bridges and power plants following Iran's claim that a U.S. F-35 fighter jet was shot down, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict.
Trump's Military Threats
- Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran's "New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!" and stated the U.S. "hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran."
- In a nationwide address, he vowed the U.S. military would strike Iran "extremely hard" for two to three weeks and threatened to revert Iran "back to the Stone Ages."
- He previously indicated that water desalination plants could be targets.
Iran's Counteractions and Claims
- Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported a U.S. F-35 was shot down over central Iran, sharing images on Telegram; the U.S. Central Command and Iranian authorities did not comment.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on X, questioning Trump's "Stone Age" remarks by noting oil production did not exist then, implying risks to global energy supplies.
- Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic since February 28, after U.S. and Israeli attacks, disrupting a key global oil route.
Legal and International Reactions
- Over 100 legal experts warned that attacking power plants could constitute war crimes under international law, as they are "objects indispensable to the survival of civilians."
- The Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE) urged the UN Security Council to take "all necessary measures" against Iranian aggression.
- China, Russia, and France have vetoed related UN Security Council actions, limiting international intervention.
Conflict Context and Diplomacy
- The war entered its second month with continued U.S. military buildup; Trump cited a 15-point peace plan and claimed Iran's "New Regime President" sought a ceasefire, which Tehran denied without specifying the leadership.
- Iran previously dismissed the U.S. proposal as "extremely maximalist and unreasonable," and multiple reports of negotiations have been contradicted by Tehran.