Trump Threatens Iran With Attacks on Civilian Targets

President Donald Trump launched the third wave of airstrikes in 24 hours against Iran while the International Monetary Fund warns of global energy disruption. The attacks target Iranian military objectives threatening vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route for global commerce. CENTCOM wrote on X that the attacks are directed at Iranian military capabilities used to threaten freely transiting vessels. Trump held an emergency meeting in the Situation Room on Tuesday to discuss a massive offensive against Iran to reopen the strait.

The first wave of attacks was completed at 2:00 a.m. GMT, followed by another round completed at 11:30 a.m. The third wave of attacks was launched at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Meanwhile, Christian Mumssen, strategy director at the IMF, said that a prolonged disruption to energy supplies would clearly affect global economic prospects. Internally, we will have to continue thinking about scenarios, he said. For some countries, the question of energy prices is extremely important according to his statements.

Trump threatened attacks on Iranian bridges and power plants if negotiations do not happen soon. In a Fox News interview on Tuesday, Trump warned: The bridges come next week. We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’ll knock out all their bridges unless they come to the table and negotiate. The U.S. president also suggested he could eliminate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps if a peace agreement is not reached.

What Military Targets Are Being Attacked?

U.S. Central Command announced that the attacks target Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. On July 14, U.S. forces struck Iranian military targets in Bandar Abbas, Khormuj, Ahvaz, Qeshm, Tunb, Bushehr and Kuh-e Stak. These attacks seek to degrade Iran’s ability to attack maritime commerce in the strategic strait. CENTCOM denied Iranian accusations of striking a civilian wheat storage facility in Hoveyzeh on Tuesday.

“There have been threats on your life from Iran… Do you feel safe making appearances like this?”@POTUS: “I don’t even think about it — because if I do, I wouldn’t be very effective.” pic.twitter.com/D0gGP72lHV

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 15, 2026

Explosions were heard in southern Iran following the latest round of U.S. airstrikes according to reports from Iranian state media. Explosions sounded in the cities of Ahvaz and Chabahar on Wednesday afternoon local time. Iranian authorities have not confirmed specific damage to military or civilian facilities. The Iranian government has accused the United States of striking non-military targets, accusations that Washington categorically denies.

U.S. forces re-established their blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. CENTCOM announced it struck an unloaded tanker that was attempting to navigate to an Iranian port. The commercial vessel ignored multiple warnings while attempting to breach the U.S. blockade. This action marks the first time the United States has used drone boats to attack Iranian naval targets directly.

What Threats Has Trump Made Against Civilian Targets?

Trump refused to say exactly how much time Iran has before the United States begins to bomb bridges and power plants. When a journalist asked if he was giving a deadline, Trump responded: I don’t like to give deadlines, but they know pretty well. They know history. They better behave. These statements suggest that civilian infrastructure targets could be attacked if there is no progress in negotiations.