A very desperate Trump threatens to carry out war crimes on Iranian civilian targets.
From This Point Forward
From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Jul 22, 2026, 6:56 AM
The Escalation Threat
The Wall Street Journal reports Trump Says U.S. Will Bomb Iran’s Power Plants, Bridges if Tehran Strikes Ships
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday that the U.S. will “bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT,” including infrastructure in or near Tehran, every time Iran shoots at a ship in the strait.
The president’s comments are the latest indication that the two countries might return to full-scale war. On Tuesday, he said U.S. military forces would likely attack Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, the underground site where Israeli intelligence believes Iran has buried advanced nuclear-enrichment centrifuges, “pretty soon.”
“Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over! This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military,” Trump wrote.
Trump’s threats to strike Iranian infrastructure raise legal questions, including whether doing so violates the laws of war. Current and former military officials caution that it isn’t lawful to strike an adversary’s infrastructure for political purposes, The Wall Street Journal previously reported.
Iran has effectively halted traffic through the vital waterway that before the war carried a fifth of the world’s oil by launching drones and missiles at commercial ships, roiling the global economy. An average of just 10 ships a day crossed Friday through Sunday, according to ship tracker Kpler. Iran has also threatened to charge tolls for ships transiting the waterway.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Monday announced a blockade of Saudi shipping, threatening the oil flow through alternative routes such as the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, amid a separate conflict with the kingdom.
Wednesday’s strikes by the U.S., the 11th consecutive night of bombing, targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities and military logistics infrastructure, according to U.S. Central Command.
Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. remains open to a diplomatic settlement, but that Iran doesn’t appear serious about a renewed ceasefire.
The Counter-Escalation Threat
Military Options Not Great
- The military options here aren’t great. The site is likely too deeply buried for U.S. munitions to penetrate, so it can’t be “destroyed.” That leaves the option of bombing entrances and tunnels to block access and hopefully entomb the centrifuges–an imperfect and temporary fix, but one the U.S. has been willing to use on other underground nuclear sites (e.g., Esfahan).
- We’re still left with the mystery of why neither the U.S. nor Israel has struck the site to date. Again, “inability to destroy” doesn’t seem to have been a guiding criteria in other targeting choices, so I’m skeptical that’s the reason here.
What’s the Mission?
- If the mission is to open the strait, then the MOU opened the strait.
- If the mission is to prevent Iran from getting a nuke, the MOU addressed that as well.
- If the mission is to make Trump look like a fool and lose more midterm votes, he is succeeding.
Guardian Angel of the Strait
This is about Trump’s fragile ego and the insane risks he is willing to take to deny he lost the war.
Trump is now the self-proclaimed “Guardian Angel of the Strait”.
Iran wants to charge $1-2 million for safe passage Trump wants to charge 20 percent of cargo, about $30 million per ship.
He later modified that to include investments of that amount in the US, equally preposterous.
Illegal War
Murkowski: “The War Powers Resolution is not ambiguous. It requires the president to terminate hostilities within 60 days absent congressional authorization. Hostilities began on Feb. 28…Is the administration still taking the position about needing no authorization from Congress?:”
Blame Biden
$2 Billion a Day to Open the Strait
Don’t Worry, Only 18 Dead
Iran Strait Opening Sequence of Events
- The strait of Hormuz was open.
- Trump started a foolish war at the request of Israel. Iran closed the strait in response.
- After wasting tens of billions of dollars and deplenishing US weapons systems, a MOU reopened the strait.
- In a feud over fees, Trump started bombing Iran. So Iran closed the strait again.
- Iran wants to collect $1-2 million in fees for passage.
- Trump declared himself as the Guardian Angel of the strait.
- Trump wants 20 percent of cargo, roughly $30 million in fees per ship for safe passage.
- Trump says a Guardian Angel fee is only fair even though he has failed to provide safe passage.
- In addition, Trump wants $2 billion a day in military funding to reopen the strait that he actually insists is already open and the US controls.
- To open the strait that is allegedly open will take $2 billion per day and $30 million per ship not counting the cost of rising oil and commodity price hikes.
The current mission, as best as anyone can tell, is to open the strait that was opened by the MOU, and was open before Trump started this asinine war.
This mission to open the strait will cost $2 billion per day plus $30 million per ship, with rising oil price inflation until the strait is open.
Costs do not factor in infrastructure damage, US global standing, or those needlessly killed or wounded by Trump’s actions.
Commodity Prices
- Crude Oil WTI 86.36 +2.02 +2.40%
- Brent Oil 93.58 +2.57 +2.82%
- Natural Gas 2.912 +0.047 +1.64%
- Gold 4,155.12 +78.72 +1.93%
- Silver 60.445 +1.337 +2.26%
West Texas Intermediate crude is up another $2.02 today to $86.36.
AAA National Average Fuel Prices
- The AAA national average gasoline price topped $4.00 a few days ago and is now $4.06 per gallon.
- A week ago the national average gas price was $3.89, a month ago $3.92, and a year ago $3.14.
- Diesel is $5.18 now, was $5.01 a month ago, and a $3.73 year ago.
If this madness continues for two more weeks, oil will be back above $100 and gasoline prices headed back toward record highs.
Stop the Funding
Vote No for more military spending.
Look on the Bright Side
Q: What’s that?
A: Only 18 soldiers have been killed so far. It’s a small price for such insanity.
Related Posts
July 21, 2026: Israel Gives Trump Marching Orders to Escalate the War. What’ll the Puppet Do?
It’s not orders per se. But it’s similar to the “intelligence” scam that started this mess.
July 21, 2026: Hegseth Blasted in Congress Over His Lies Iran’s Military Capability Destroyed
Hegseth seeks more money for illegal wars. Just say no.
Article posted with permission from Mish Shedlock
