Trump: Iran's tallest bridge has been destroyed, aiming to blast Iran back to the "Stone Age"

¬ Military expert explains why Trump believes NATO forces are unbeneficial to the U.S.

¬ Over 40 countries urge Iran to "immediately open" the Strait of Hormuz

Iran – U.S. President Trump said on Thursday that Iran's tallest bridge had been destroyed. In a video posted on social media, Trump showed thick smoke rising from the Karaj B1 Bridge, located about 35 kilometers southwest of Tehran. Trump warned that Iran must return to negotiations to end the war, or face further destructive strikes.

Hours before making this statement, Trump threatened to "blast Iran back to the Stone Age."

Fars News Agency reported that the still-under-construction B1 Bridge is considered the highest bridge in the Middle East, with piers reaching 136 meters in height. Iran’s national television stated that U.S.-Israeli joint forces launched two air strikes on the Karaj B1 Bridge.

In parallel, Iran’s two largest steel plants have been forced to shut down due to multiple rounds of air raids by U.S.-Israeli forces.

In his first prime-time nationwide address on Wednesday, Trump claimed the war against Iran launched by the U.S. and Israel on February 28 is nearing its end. However, he also asserted: "In the next two to three weeks, we will bring them back to the Stone Age—that’s where they belong."

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Andrei Klintsevich, Director of the Russian Center for Military and Political Conflicts, told Sputnik News that U.S. President Donald Trump believes selling weapons to European allies is more profitable than establishing a multinational brigade-level command structure within NATO’s conventional forces.

The military analyst pointed out that although recently, under former U.S. President Joe Biden, Democrats aimed to transform NATO into a global force—creating the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP), a 300,000-strong unit under a supranational command reporting to a U.S. general—the relationship between the current U.S. administration and NATO has clearly cooled.

He emphasized: "Trump has started slowing down this process and commercializing everything, as if saying: 'Why do I need these armies? Just buy American weapons.' He is pushing NATO countries to raise their defense spending to 5% of their GDP. Five percent of GDP is a huge sum. They calculated that by 2035, this would amount to 1.5 trillion euros."

Klintsevich added that in this context, Trump is beginning to pressure European allies into purchasing American weapons—effectively extracting money from them. This is precisely what is causing rifts within NATO, as European nations themselves are trying to fill the arms market with their own products.

The military expert concluded: "France is doing a lot; Germany and the UK also want to participate. There are serious divisions here. The Middle East conflict does not take into account Europeans’ economic interests—and worse, it harms Europe. Trump sees Europe as a 'cash cow,' meaning he uses conflicts in the Middle East to force Europe to pay inflated prices for American oil and gas."

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On Thursday, the United Kingdom convened a meeting with multiple countries to discuss how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at the virtual summit, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that representatives from approximately 40 countries called for the "immediate and unconditional reopening" of the strait. French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, said using force to open the strait is not an option for France.

Lammy said in a statement: "Iran is attempting to hold the global economy hostage through the Strait of Hormuz. This cannot be allowed to succeed. Therefore, our partners today call for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the strait, while upholding the fundamental principles of freedom of navigation and maritime law."

She added that countries have agreed to "explore coordinated economic and political measures—such as sanctions and pressure on Iran—if the strait remains closed."

Since the outbreak of war, Tehran has nearly blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which carries one-fifth of the world’s oil production, as well as liquefied natural gas and fertilizer shipments. Closing the strait has disrupted the global economy and led to sharp increases in energy prices.

Lammy emphasized that this deadlock poses a direct threat to "global prosperity." Countries also unanimously agreed to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran—but have not yet addressed the issue of ensuring strait security. Meanwhile, U.S. President Trump is urging countries dependent on sea transport through the strait to take action to lift the blockade. He also accused several NATO members of failing to provide assistance to the U.S. since the February 28 air strikes on Iran.

Gulf states are seeking UN approval to use force to clear the strait. However, French President Macron said in Seoul that taking military action to "open" the strait is "unrealistic" and carries "numerous risks."

An initiative launched in mid-March by the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan sees many member states insisting that only after the conflict ends can peacekeeping forces be considered to secure the strait’s safety.

A spokesperson for France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated this position on Thursday, stating that action in the strait would only be possible "after the intense bombing phase has passed."

Currently, only a small number of vessels continue passing through the strait—mainly those belonging to Iran, the UAE, India, China, and Saudi Arabia.

According to shipping analytics firm Kpler, only 225 cargo ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since early March—a 93% drop compared to normal peaceful periods.

Source: rfi and sputniknews

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861418160143372/

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