The conflict involving the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other has intensified sharply as a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for Tehran to accept U.S. demands approaches, with escalating threats targeting critical infrastructure and limited signs of de-escalation.
Trump warned that the United States could move to destroy key Iranian infrastructure if no agreement is reached, stating that bridges and power stations across the country could be reduced to rubble. He also cautioned that “a whole civilization will die tonight,” as the White House indicated he would soon deliver a major address outlining the next steps.
Iran, for its part, submitted a formal response to a U.S. proposal via Pakistani mediation, presenting a 10-point plan that rejects a temporary ceasefire in favour of a permanent end to the conflict. The proposal calls for sanctions relief, reconstruction support, and guarantees for safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
On the ground, Israeli forces carried out intensive strikes targeting infrastructure across multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Karaj, Qom, and Tabriz. The Israeli military said it struck eight bridge segments used for transporting military equipment, while Iranian media reported casualties following an attack on a railway bridge in Kashan.
Authorities in several provinces reported widespread damage to transport infrastructure, including railway lines in Alborz and Zanjan, as well as roads and facilities in Khuzestan. Rail services in Lorestan Province were suspended until further notice. In the outskirts of Tehran, a major bridge carrying a railway line was reportedly hit, alongside industrial facilities and strategic routes, signalling a shift towards disrupting logistics and supply chains.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said they had launched intensified missile strikes using dual-launch platforms as part of an advanced phase of “Operation True Promise 4”, targeting sites across central and southern Israel, including Tel Aviv and the Negev. More than 30 locations were reportedly hit, with further strikes expected to expand to industrial and military targets.
The escalation has begun to spill over into the Gulf. Authorities in Sharjah reported two injuries after a ballistic missile struck a building linked to a telecommunications company, while the United States advised its citizens in Manama to shelter in place.
In Israel, the health ministry said the number of injured since the conflict began has exceeded 7,000, with dozens of new cases reported in the past 24 hours. The death toll is estimated at more than 30.
Diplomatic prospects remain uncertain despite ongoing indirect contacts. Qatar reiterated that the crisis can only be resolved through negotiations, though it indicated it is not currently acting as a direct mediator amid continued hostilities.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said more than 14 million Iranians had expressed readiness to defend the country, adding that he was personally prepared to “sacrifice” for it, in a sign of growing domestic mobilisation as tensions escalate.