By BBC News/ Colin Ambler cvnznews.com
Iran has warned that any further strikes on civilian areas by the United States or Israel will trigger a “much more devastating and widespread” response, escalating fears of a deeper regional conflict as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz reach a critical point.
The statement, issued by a spokesman for the Khatam al‑Anbiya Central Headquarters — Iran’s highest operational military command — was broadcast by state media and framed as a direct response to increasingly aggressive rhetoric from Washington. It follows US President Donald Trump’s latest threat to target Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran fails to meet his Tuesday deadline to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil normally flows, has been effectively choked since the outbreak of the US‑Israeli conflict with Iran. Tehran has insisted it will only reopen the strait under a “new legal regime” that includes compensation for wartime damage — a position that has stalled negotiations despite mediation efforts by Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt.
Trump’s threats, delivered in an expletive‑laden social media post, have drawn scrutiny from international law experts. Analysts warn that deliberate strikes on civilian infrastructure such as electricity plants, water desalination facilities or bridges could constitute potential war crimes under the Rome Statute, even if such sites have dual‑use functions. The White House has rejected that interpretation, insisting US forces will act “within the confines of the law” while pursuing the objectives of Operation Epic Fury.
Meanwhile, fighting across the region continues to intensify. Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed at least 15 people, including a four‑year‑old girl, according to Lebanese health officials. Iran has also reported casualties from US‑Israeli attacks on residential areas, including a strike in Qom that left several people buried under rubble. Air defences in the UAE and Kuwait say they intercepted waves of Iranian drones and missiles overnight.
The crisis has rattled global markets. Oil prices surged past US$110 a barrel after Trump’s latest warnings, while Asian stock markets edged higher amid uncertainty over whether a diplomatic breakthrough is possible before the deadline.
With both sides trading threats and civilian casualties mounting, regional officials say meaningful negotiations are unlikely without an immediate ceasefire — a condition that remains out of reach as the conflict widens.
