United States President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Tehran, threatening to unleash “Hell” on Iran’s vital infrastructure if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Wednesday morning.
The ultimatum specifically targets the nation’s power plants and critical bridges in a plan the US President casually referred to as “Bridge Day”, reports Al Jazeera.
Experts warn that targeting such civilian infrastructure would constitute war crimes. This threat follows a series of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian research centres, pharmaceutical firms, schools, and hospitals.
Only last week, a US “double-tap” strike obliterated the unfinished B1 bridge in Karaj, claiming the lives of eight civilians who were enjoying a Nowruz picnic. Analysts describe this pattern of targeting as a strategy to “de-develop” the nation.
Only about 185 bridges exceed 100m (330ft) in length, and a mere 42 bridges have a main span – the longest unsupported distance between two consecutive pillars – of more than 50m (165ft). Based on their scale and economic importance, here are five of Iran’s most prominent bridges:
Persian Gulf Bridge (Qeshm Island)
Located in Hormuzgan province, this 3.4km project aims to link Bandar Abbas to Qeshm Island. Though only 15 to 18 percent complete, the structure represents a “dream project” spanning five decades.
With an investment reaching $700 million, the bridge serves as a vital component of the International North-
South Transport Corridor involving Russia and India. US strikes on its massive underwater foundations would destroy decades of planning and Chinese-backed credit lines.
Lake Urmia Bridge (Shahid Kalantari Bridge)
This 1.7km bridge crosses the hypersaline Lake Urmia, connecting the provinces of East and West Azerbaijan. It reduced the driving distance between Tabriz and Urmia by 110km. Beyond the transport impact, observers fear that destroying the bridge would dump 35km of steel and concrete into the shrinking lake, triggering an ecological catastrophe.
Sadr Multilevel Expressway
Situated in the heart of Tehran, this 11km long structure is the longest multilevel bridge in the Middle East.
Iranian engineers constructed the bridge entirely during the sanctions era. As a primary commuter artery for millions, an attack on this structure would likely result in heavy urban casualties and Cripple the capital’s emergency evacuation routes.
Karun 4 Arch Bridge
Spanning 378 metres in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, this is Iran’s longest arch bridge. Because the structure is suspended directly over a dam reservoir, any bombing risks secondary damage to the hydroelectric facility. Such an event could lead to disastrous flooding for communities living downstream.
Ghadir Cable-stayed Bridge
This 1,014-metre bridge spans the Karun River in Ahvaz, a city central to Iran’s steel and oil industries. Completed in 2012, the bridge is essential for the daily movement of families and emergency services. Destroying it would effectively bisect the city, further isolating a province already suffering from previous air strikes.
