Tracking recent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure
US-Israeli Strikes Target Iranian Infrastructure Amid Ongoing Conflict
President Donald Trump has vowed to dismantle key Iranian infrastructure unless a peace agreement is finalized by Tuesday night. His statement, promising to “bomb the country back to the Stone Ages,” highlighted plans to strike bridges and power stations across Iran. In a social media post, he warned that failure to secure a deal would lead to the collapse of “a whole civilization” that night.
Recent Attacks and Casualties
On Thursday, US aircraft bombed a bridge under construction in Karaj, a central Iranian city. Local authorities reported at least 13 fatalities, with verified footage showing two strikes that left a significant gap in the structure. Construction cranes remained visible nearby, indicating ongoing efforts to rebuild.
The BBC has confirmed that over the past two weeks, US and Israeli forces have targeted at least two steel plants, three bridges, and a pharmaceutical facility. These strikes have disrupted critical systems, with Iranian officials noting the potential for long-term economic consequences.
Steel Manufacturing and Economic Impact
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that strikes have crippled up to 70% of Iran’s steel production capacity. Arman Mahmoudian, a research fellow at the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute, emphasized the sector’s role in Iran’s non-oil economy. “Steel is foundational to Iran’s industrial output,” he said. “If 70% of its manufacturing capability is destroyed, nearly 20 million tons of production could be lost, affecting 3–3.5% of the country’s GDP.”
Verified images showed damage at both the Isfahan Mobarakeh Steel Company and the Khuzestan Steel Company, Iran’s two largest producers. Local officials estimated repairs might take up to a year, underscoring the severity of the strikes.
Pharmaceutical Industry Under Threat
The IDF announced an attack on the Tofigh Daru Research & Engineering Company, a major pharmaceutical producer in Iran. The strike, alleged to have targeted chemical substances used for weapon development, disrupted the supply of essential drugs like anaesthetics and cancer treatments. While the BBC cannot independently confirm the claim, the attack highlights vulnerabilities in Iran’s healthcare sector.
Pharmaceuticals account for a small portion of Iran’s economy, but Mahmoudian warned that targeting the industry could undermine the country’s medical independence. Iranian media previously stated that over 90% of medicines are domestically produced, though this has not been independently verified.
Damage to Educational and Religious Sites
Verified images revealed destruction at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, with debris scattered around the building following an attack. Earlier, strikes on the capital caused damage at the Sharif University of Technology. In Zanjan, a religious complex was hit, collapsing parts of the Husseinya Mosque and killing two individuals. The attack also destroyed a clinic and a library within the site.
Trump later shared footage of the Karaj bridge destruction, asserting that the “biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again.” He added:
“Much more to follow.”
As the conflict escalates, the cumulative effect of these strikes on Iran’s infrastructure continues to raise concerns among global officials and domestic leaders alike. The targeting of essential facilities underscores the broader strategic implications for Iran’s economy and civilian populations.
