Iran warned the U.S. on Thursday that it would reduce Persian Gulf region buildings to “rubble” if American forces attack its domestic infrastructure, ratcheting up threats even as it released a U.S.-Iranian dual citizen in a goodwill gesture.
A spokesman for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps said Iran would target “all the infrastructure still standing in the region” if the U.S. attacks Iran’s sites. He also warned the U.S. not to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz.
“This is Iran’s invincible red line,” Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari said in comments carried by state-affiliated media.
The U.S. and Iran are trading threats and attacks after a mid-June memorandum of understanding — structured to lead to lasting peace — fell apart due to jockeying over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran wants to maintain control over the oil chokepoint. President Trump responded by blockading Iranian maritime traffic and attacking Iranian military sites.
U.S. Central Command said it struck several sites late Wednesday, including military targets in the city of Bandar Abbas and coastal defense and cruise missile sites on Greater Tunb Island.
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“U.S. forces struck Iranian command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten innocent mariners crewing commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said.
There were signs of a diplomatic opening amid the fighting.
Mr. Trump said Dena Karari, an Iran-born U.S. citizen who has been detained in Iran since December 2024, was on her way back to the U.S.
Iran seized the passport of Ms. Karari, a 53-year-old California resident, while she was visiting family in Shiraz.
“She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition,” Mr. Trump posted on social media. “The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!”
Mr. Trump says Iran will be forced to make a peace deal that constrains its nuclear program because it will be overwhelmed by U.S. power.
Democrats in Congress are urging Mr. Trump to wind down the conflict, saying it is taking an economic toll on Americans through higher gas prices.
The average U.S. price of gas rose to $3.94 per gallon on Thursday, up 5 cents from one day earlier and a 32% increase from when the war began on Feb. 28, according to the AAA motor club.
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