President Trump threatened to destroy every power plant and bridge in Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by Tuesday evening. The ultimatum, delivered on Truth Social, marks the most direct threat against Iranian civilian infrastructure since the war began on 28 February.

Why it matters: striking power plants and bridges would cut electricity, water, and transport for 88 million Iranian civilians, raising questions about the limits of US military action under international humanitarian law.

What Trump said

In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump wrote: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one.” He added that Iran should “open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell.”

In a separate interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump said absent a deal, the US would target every bridge and power plant. He claimed Iran “will take 20 years to rebuild, if they’re lucky.”

The case for pressure

Administration officials argue that maximum pressure on Iran’s infrastructure is needed to force the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 million barrels of oil pass daily. The closure has driven global oil prices above $109 per barrel and pushed US petrol past $4 a gallon.

Trump told Fox News he was “considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil.” Supporters say the threat of overwhelming force is the only language Tehran’s leadership understands.

The case against

Iran’s UN mission called the statement “clear evidence of intent to commit war crime.” Legal scholars told PBS that international humanitarian law permits attacks on civilian infrastructure only when military advantage clearly outweighs civilian harm, a high bar to meet.

The International Committee of the Red Cross weighed in without naming the US directly. ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said: “Deliberate threats, whether in rhetoric or in action, against essential civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities must not become the new norm in warfare.”

Former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a close Trump ally, called the messaging “evil” and said it contradicted the stated goal of freeing the Iranian people.

What happens next

Trump’s Tuesday deadline expires at 20:00 Eastern Time. Iran has rejected a temporary ceasefire and said it has formulated a response to US demands. The Pentagon has not confirmed whether operational orders have been issued to carry out the threat.