President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Iran, threatening to bomb critical infrastructure across the country unless an "acceptable" deal is reached to end the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel by Tuesday night. Trump warned that US forces would target key facilities such as bridges and power plants, vowing to reduce Iran "back to the Stone Ages" if no agreement is secured. His messages on social media further escalated tensions, with one post declaring that a "whole civilization will die tonight" in the absence of a deal.
This warning comes amid a recent surge of attacks on infrastructure vital to ordinary Iranians. Since the conflict began, schools, hospitals, and industrial plants have suffered damage. BBC Verify has confirmed that at least two steel plants, three bridges, and a pharmaceutical plant have been struck in US and Israeli airstrikes over the past two weeks. These targets are not only critical to Iran's economy but also to the wellbeing of its civilian population.
The attacks have drawn sharp criticism from senior Democrats in the US Congress and officials at the United Nations, who caution that these strikes may constitute war crimes under international law. Despite these concerns, Trump dismissed them at a Monday news conference, emphasizing that allowing Iran to develop nuclear weapons would be the real war crime.
One recent strike on Thursday targeted a bridge under construction in the central city of Karaj. Local officials reported that the attack killed at least 13 people. BBC Verify obtained footage showing two distinct strikes on the bridge, which left a large gap with construction cranes visible on either side. Trump publicly shared this footage, boasting that the "biggest bridge in Iran" had been destroyed and warning that "much more" destruction was to come.
Industrial targets have borne significant damage as well. On 27 March, verified footage revealed smoke rising from the Isfahan Mobarakeh Steel Company, Iran's largest steel manufacturer, causing work to be suspended. This plant exported approximately $860 million (£649 million) worth of steel between March 2025 and January 2026, according to company-linked reports. Satellite imagery also confirmed damage at the Khuzestan Steel Company, the country's second-largest steel manufacturer. Local officials estimated that repairing the damage to Khuzestan could take up to a year.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that these strikes have disrupted 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, said the destruction could have severe economic repercussions. He explained that steel is fundamental to Iran's non-oil economic sector, and losing nearly 20 million tons of output could impact 3 to 3.5% of Iran's GDP.
The pharmaceutical sector has also been targeted. On 31 March, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced an airstrike on the Tofigh Daru Research & Engineering Company, one of Iran's largest pharmaceutical firms producing anaesthetic and cancer drugs. The IDF alleged the company had transferred chemical substances, including fentanyl, which were used in chemical weapons research and development. The BBC has not independently verified this claim. Although pharmaceuticals comprise a small portion of Iran's economy, experts warn that strikes against pharmaceutical companies could jeopardize access to essential medicines and undermine Iran's medical independence. Iranian media previously claimed that over 90% of pharmaceuticals are produced domestically, though this figure remains unconfirmed.
Educational institutions have also suffered in the recent attacks. Verified images show extensive damage to Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, with debris scattered outside and parts of the building destroyed following a reported attack. Similar damage was seen at Sharif University of Technology, also in Tehran, after strikes on the capital city.
Religious sites have not been spared either. In the central city of Zanjan, an airstrike leveled parts of the Husseinya Mosque, destroying a clinic and a library within the complex. Local officials reported that two people were killed in this strike.
Railway infrastructure has been heavily targeted too. The IDF stated on Tuesday that it had bombed 10 "key" parts of the Iranian railway network. Verified footage from Aminabad village in central Iran showed a collapsed railway bridge reportedly caused by these attacks. An additional video from the Iranian Red Crescent showed paramedics carrying an injured man away from a railway line near Karaj, though the exact cause of his injuries is unclear. A railway worker in Tehran expressed frustration to the BBC, stating, "I'm really angry. Everything is falling apart." The strikes followed IDF warnings to Iranian civilians on social media, cautioning them against traveling by train or being near railway lines due to the danger.
These recent attacks are part of a broader pattern of strikes targeting civilian infrastructure. Last month, BBC Verify revealed that a UNESCO World Heritage site, schools, and a hospital had all been damaged in bombing runs. This has prompted legal experts and international officials to question whether the US-Israel campaign could amount to violations of international humanitarian law or war crimes.
Professor Rachel VanLandingham, a former US military lawyer, explained that under international law, attacks on civilian sites are permitted only under limited circumstances-specifically, if the targets provide a definite military advantage. She emphasized that any military action must avoid causing "excessive" harm to civilians.
According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), civilian harm has so far mostly been concentrated around strikes on military, security, and state-linked sites, rather than indiscriminate attacks on residential neighborhoods. ACLED's analysis indicates approximately 40 "dual-use" sites-facilities producing both civilian and military goods-have been targeted since the US and Israeli strikes began on 28 February.
UN officials have voiced strong concerns about the attacks. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated on Monday that strikes causing "excessive incidental civilian harm" would be prohibited under international law. The UN's human rights chief, Volker Turk, added on Tuesday that deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure constitutes a war crime and that those responsible would be held accountable.
Sir Geoffrey Nice, a former prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, told the BBC that bombing infrastructure such as power plants and water facilities could be disproportionate under international law. He warned that interfering with essential services risks causing widespread suffering, including starvation and disease, and emphasized that civilian populations must be adequately protected during conflict.
Despite these warnings, President Trump remained defiant. When asked on Monday whether his threats to strike energy infrastructure might constitute war crimes, he responded, "I'm not worried about it." He further asserted, "You know the war crime? The war crime is allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon."
As the situation continues to escalate, concerns grow over the humanitarian impact of the attacks on Iranian civilians and infrastructure. The destruction of vital industrial facilities, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and transportation networks threatens the country's economy and the wellbeing of millions of people.
The full extent of the damage and the long-term consequences remain to be seen. International observers and legal experts will likely continue scrutinizing the conduct of the US and Israeli forces as the conflict unfolds. Meanwhile, the urgency of diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful resolution remains paramount to prevent further destruction and loss of life.
Additional reporting by Emma Pengelly, Peter Mwai, and Luke Unger.