US Bombs Karaj Bridge Killing 8; Trump Threatens More
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- US warplanes struck a bridge under construction in Karaj twice on Thursday, killing 8 people and injuring almost 100 according to Iranian media, while families picnicked nearby for the 13th day of Nowruz holidays.
- Donald Trump warned on Truth Social that strikes on Iran's bridges and electric power plants will follow unless its leaders agree to his terms, adding that the US military 'hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran.'
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said striking civilian structures 'will not compel Iranians to surrender' and, responding to Trump's 'stone ages' threat, asked whether he was sure he wanted to 'turn back the clock' to a Middle East 'when there was no oil or gas being pumped.'
- Iranians contacted by BBC Persian — including self-described pro-war and pro-US-Israeli-campaign residents — expressed shock and worry that a civilian bridge was targeted, with one man in his 20s saying 'this strike has got me worried' even though he supports the war.
- Hardline pro-establishment Iranians on social media demanded retaliation against bridges in neighboring countries hosting US bases, framing the Karaj strike as proof that the US and Israel's goal is the 'destruction of Iran' rather than its military assets.
- Iran's internet blackout has entered day 35, and the BBC notes that every person it managed to reach inside Iran — via costly and risky Starlink connections that carry up to two years in prison — opposes the current establishment.
Why it matters: By threatening bridges and power plants after striking a civilian-adjacent site during a national holiday, Trump has shifted the pressure campaign from military targets to the infrastructure of daily Iranian life — a move that unsettles even Iranians who support the US-Israeli campaign, while Tehran's 35-day communications blackout makes independent verification of damage and casualties nearly impossible.
