WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy key parts of Iran’s civilian infrastructure if the country does not agree to a peace deal with the United States. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said the U.S. would “knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran.” He added that there would be “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY” if no deal is reached.
The threat comes as a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is set to end on Wednesday. A U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to travel to Pakistan on Monday for another round of negotiations. It is not yet clear whether Iranian representatives will attend the talks.
Earlier talks in Islamabad on April 12 lasted 21 hours but ended without an agreement. Officials have said the two sides remain far apart on key issues, including the management of Iran’s nuclear program. Trump has said Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, though the terms of any suspension have not been publicly confirmed.
The Iranian government has sharply criticized Trump’s latest threat. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei called the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports “unlawful and criminal” and a violation of the Pakistan-mediated ceasefire. Baghaei also said the blockade amounts to collective punishment of the Iranian people and constitutes a war crime.
Iran’s Mission to the United Nations released a statement saying Trump’s threat to target civilian infrastructure is “direct and public incitement to terrorize civilians and clear evidence of intent to commit war crimes”. The mission called on the international community to act to prevent such attacks.
International law experts have previously warned that strikes on civilian infrastructure could violate the laws of war. However, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright defended the president’s position on Sunday, saying Trump is seeking “maximum leverage” in the negotiations. Wright acknowledged that much of Iran’s infrastructure supports civilians but said he was not concerned about that.
Trump also announced on Sunday that the U.S. Navy had seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, the Touska, in the Gulf of Oman. He said the ship had attempted to bypass the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments, has been largely closed since the war began on February 28. Iran resumed its blockade of the strait on April 18, according to the BBC. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said in a statement on Saturday that Iran is “courageously defending” itself against the U.S. and Israel.
The conflict has resulted in significant casualties. Iran’s forensics chief has reported nearly 3,400 people killed in the country since the start of U.S.-Israeli strikes. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed.