Donald Trump has claimed responsibility for destroying Iran’s largest bridge, a day after threatening to bomb the country “back to the stone ages” if a deal to end the five-week-long war was not reached. The US president shared footage of the newly built 136-metre-high, $400m B1 suspension bridge between Tehran and Karaj collapsing after being struck twice, killing eight people and wounding 95, according to Iranian state media.
“The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again,” Trump posted on Truth Social, warning there would be “much more to follow” if a settlement was not reached. The attack is one of several confirmed strikes in Iran this week, despite difficulties in obtaining information due to an internet shutdown by authorities.
Earlier, in a primetime speech, Trump declared the war launched on Iran on 28 February a success “nearing completion”, but repeated threats to destroy Iran’s power plants, potentially cutting off electricity to millions. He doubled down on that threat after the bridge strike.
Iran has suffered far more than the US and Israel, with over 15,000 bombing raids since the war began. At least 1,900 people have been killed and 20,000 injured, according to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Oil prices jumped 7% to $108 a barrel as the conflict showed no sign of ending.
UN Secretary General António Guterres warned the world is “on the edge of a wider war” with catastrophic global implications, calling for an end to the fighting. Iran’s military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari vowed “more crushing, broader and more destructive” attacks until the “permanent regret and surrender” of Iran’s enemies.
