15 July,2026 10:03 AM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondent
Donald Trump. Pic/AFP
US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could expand its military campaign against Iran by targeting the country's power plants and bridges unless Tehran returns to the negotiating table, signalling a possible escalation in the ongoing conflict.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said US military operations would intensify over the coming days and suggested that key infrastructure could be targeted if diplomatic efforts fail.
His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following several rounds of US strikes on Iranian military targets.
During the interview, Trump said the United States would continue carrying out strikes against Iran in the coming days.
"We're going to hit them very hard tonight. We're going to hit them very hard tomorrow night. We're going to hit them very hard the night after, and then next week it gets really bad for them," Trump told Fox News in an interview.
He indicated that Iran's energy infrastructure would be targeted later in the campaign.
"I'll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we'll hit energy targets, yeah," he said. "Next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges."
"We're gonna knock out all their power plants. We're gonna knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate," Trump said.
When asked whether he believed Iran was willing to negotiate, Trump said he expected Tehran to return to talks because of mounting military pressure.
"I think they have no choice."
He also indicated that the military campaign would continue until he was satisfied that its objectives had been achieved.
"They'll continue until I say, it's enough," he said. "They have some fight left, but they don't have much."
Trump did not specify any timeline for possible negotiations or identify conditions under which military operations would cease.
Trump declined to confirm whether the United States planned to seize Kharg Island, one of Iran's principal oil export terminals, and did not rule out the possibility of limited ground operations.
"I would say no, if I thought it was appropriate," Trump said when asked whether he was ruling out ground action. "Sometimes you need a ground campaign, but we have other people that will do the ground campaign for us."
He also said the United States had already conducted strikes on Kharg Island but had deliberately avoided targeting its oil facilities because of the potential impact on global energy markets.
"At some point we could," he said about striking the oil infrastructure. "But I think it's unlikely."
Trump also commented on the status of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes for crude oil shipments.
"It's open if people wanna go through it," he said. "We're not opening it for Iran. That's the only one it's closed for. It's closed for Iran both in and out, but it's open now."
According to Fox News, shipping data indicated that only 10 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, representing less than 10 per cent of normal maritime traffic through the strategic waterway.
The US President said American representatives had been in contact with Iranian officials shortly before the interview.
Asked about the message conveyed to Tehran, Trump replied: "You better make a deal. You're not gonna have any, you're not gonna have anybody left."
(With inputs from IANS)
