Washington: US forces targeted a major civilian infrastructure — a highway bridge — in Iran, marking a sharp escalation in tensions, as President Donald Trump warned of further strikes and urged Tehran to strike a deal amid rising conflict.
The strike hit the B1 bridge linking Tehran with the nearby city of Karaj. A US military official said the attack targeted “a planned military supply route for Iran’s missile and drone forces.”
Iranian state media said the bridge was not yet operational and that the military was not using it. Officials reported that the attack resulted in the deaths of at least eight people and injuries to dozens, including civilians who were outdoors during the Nowruz holiday.
Trump hailed the strike in a social media post. “The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again — Much more to follow!” he said. He also warned Iran to “MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
US officials said the operation was part of a broader effort to disrupt Iran’s military logistics. The strike aimed to prevent the movement of missile and drone components across the country.
Iranian leaders struck a defiant tone. “When it comes to defending our homeland, each and every one of us will become a soldier of this country,” Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf said. He added that Iranians were “armed, ready and standing.”
Tehran ruled out talks with Washington for now. A foreign ministry spokesman said negotiations were “impossible under current conditions.”
The bridge strike came alongside other attacks on infrastructure. Iranian authorities said an airstrike hit the Pasteur Institute of Iran, a major public health facility. A health ministry spokesman called it a “direct assault on international health security”.
The conflict has spread across the region. Israel said it intercepted missiles from Iran. The Houthis in Yemen also launched a missile toward Israel.
Diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Russia, China, and France blocked a push at the U.N. Security Council to authorise force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
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Photo: Xinhua
–IANS
