Trump threatens to hit Iran infrastructure if Hormuz remains blocked

US President Donald Trump ​said ⁠in an expletive-laden social media ‌post on ‌Sunday that the United States will target Iran's power plants and bridges on ‌Tuesday if the Strait of Hormuz is ⁠not reopened.

"Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!" Trump said ​in a Truth Social post, ‌referencing the key shipping lane that Tehran has effectively closed since the US ⁠and Israel launched attacks on Iran more than a month ago.

"Open the Fuckin' Strait, ​you ‌crazy bastards, or you'll be living ‌in Hell - JUST WATCH!," Trump said, ending his Easter morning post with: "Praise be ‌to Allah."

The ‌president separately said ⁠he would hold a news conference ‌on Monday in the Oval Office, after the US military rescued ⁠two US pilots whose ​aircraft were downed in Iran.

A cargo ship is seen near the Strait of Hormuz. File/ Reuters

As Iran continues to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz, Trump, in a weekend social media post, threatened to unleash "all Hell" if it isn't opened by Monday. He has issued such threats before and extended them when mediators have claimed progress toward ending the war on agreeable terms.

The other jet to go down was a US A-10 attack aircraft. Neither the status of the crew nor exactly where it crashed was immediately known.

"Iranian civilians will be the first to suffer from the destruction of power plants and bridges," Amnesty International head Agnes Callamard said on social media, calling Trump's threat "revolting."

On Sunday, Iran's state TV aired a video showing what it claimed were parts of American aircraft shot down by Iranian forces, along with a photo of thick, black smoke rising into the air. The broadcaster said Iran had shot down an American transport plane and two helicopters that were part of the rescue operation.

However, a regional intelligence official briefed on the mission told The Associated Press that the U.S. military blew up two transport planes due to a technical malfunction, forcing it to bring in additional aircraft to complete the rescue. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the covert mission.

Iran's military joint command on Sunday claimed that four U.S. aircraft were destroyed during the rescue operation and warned of stepping up retaliatory attacks on regional oil and civilian infrastructure if the U.S. and Israel attacked such targets in the Islamic Republic, according to state television.

"We once again repeat: if you commit aggression again and strike civilian facilities, our responses will be more forceful," a spokesman said in comments run by IRNA news agency.

In Kuwait, Iranian drone attacks caused significant damage to power plants and a petrochemical plant. They also put a water desalination station out of service, according to the Ministry of Electricity. No injuries were reported, the ministry said.

Agencies