Iran has fiercely accused the United States of targeting Iran civilian infrastructure in a devastating new wave of airstrikes, reigniting fears of broader conflict after recent peace talks dramatically collapsed. State media and provincial authorities claim bridges, a vital train station, and a regional airport were struck.
BBC Verify has independently confirmed significant damage to at least one bridge in Hormozgan province. Night vision footage earlier showed a massive ball of flames engulfing the structure, later confirmed by daylight images revealing a crumpled stretch of road and substantial rubble. Iranian officials in Hormozgan also reported seven fatalities stemming from the Thursday night assaults.
While US Central Command (Centcom) has refrained from listing specific targets, it asserted that the bombardments aim to “further degrade Iranian military capabilities.” This justification comes months after President Donald Trump’s ominous declaration in April, threatening to bomb Iranian bridges and power stations unless Tehran returned to negotiations to end the war, which commenced on February 28th following US and Israeli attacks.
US Strikes Stoke Fears for Iran Civilian Infrastructure
The latest strikes mark the sixth consecutive night of US air operations against Iranian targets. Meanwhile, in a retaliatory move, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have hit US maritime surveillance radar sites in Oman, alongside facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. They further alleged an attack on a US special operations command centre in al-Tanf, Syria; neither Washington nor Damascus has commented on this claim.
Kuwaiti authorities, however, corroborated that Iranian strikes had impacted power generation and water desalination stations. Kuwait’s military also reported several personnel wounded by Iranian drones targeting various facilities and camps early on Friday. The strategic significance of Iran civilian infrastructure as a potential target in escalating conflicts cannot be understated, particularly given the previous warnings.
Amidst this escalating hostilities, the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint that Tehran has effectively sealed off throughout the conflict, remains shut. This vital waterway previously accommodated a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, expressed profound concern regarding global energy supplies, stating, “We should be worried, and I am worried, if the situation does not improve in the next few weeks.”
Earlier this summer, the US and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire in June, intending to facilitate peace negotiations. Despite initial observance, marked by Iranian attacks on oil tankers to enforce compliance with Strait of Hormuz transit regulations, followed by US counter-strikes, the talks ultimately faltered. Trump declared the ceasefire over last week. Subsequently, the US has not only intensified attacks on Iranian sites but also reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported a tanker hit by an unknown projectile near Khasab, Oman, though all crew were declared safe. The deliberate targeting of non-military sites in any conflict raises serious questions about international humanitarian law, a point previously underscored by UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who warned that “deliberately attacking civilians and Iran civilian infrastructure is a war crime.”
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