Iran vows to crush targets if U.S. strikes Iranian infrastructure, cites Hormuz red line

Iran's top military command said on Thursday it would "crush" all regional infrastructure if President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to target Iranian power plants and bridges next week, calling the Strait of Hormuz an "invincible red line" for Tehran. The statement, posted on Telegram, warned that no U.S. interference would be tolerated in the waterway that is vital for oil shipments.

Trump told Fox News that U.S. forces would strike key Iranian infrastructure within days unless diplomatic talks resume, saying the attacks would hit power plants and bridges. The United States Central Command later reported a fresh wave of precision strikes on Iranian command centers, air-defense sites, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance installations, including targets in Bandar Abbas.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson echoed the threat of retaliation, stating that Iranian fighters would respond with full force to U.S. aggression. The exchange follows recent U.S. strikes launched in retaliation for attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran's own attacks on Gulf states.

Oil markets showed modest declines, with Brent crude down 0.5% and U.S. West Texas Intermediate falling 0.2% on Thursday morning. Analysts noted the conflict may settle into a tactical stalemate, with U.S. air strikes likely to remain effective at a limited level while Iran retains the ability to produce drones and missiles. Some experts warned that a ground invasion capable of compelling Iran's Revolutionary Guard to surrender is unlikely with current U.S. conventional forces.

Commodity-hedging specialists observed that businesses are increasingly fatigued by the ongoing geopolitical risk, though many treasury teams continue to adjust hedge ratios and tenors to manage exposure.