Trump escalates threats, vows to target Iranian bridges and power plants

Geoff Bennett:

President Trump today leveled more threats against Iran, and the Islamic Republic's foreign minister responded that any future attacks would be met an eye for an eye, as the contested closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues.

Our White House correspondent, Liz Landers, reports.

Liz Landers:

This morning, on his way to receive the bodies of four U.S. soldiers, President Trump vowed revenge.

President Donald Trump:

They're going to pay a big price.

Liz Landers:

It followed yet another threat from the president to attack civilian targets -- quote -- "Any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by missile, rocket, drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant."

The U.S. military in recent days has already attacked bridges in Iran, and state media claims the U.S. also hit a power plant on Sunday. Such targeting of civilian infrastructure could be considered a war crime. Iran has also struck civilian targets across the Gulf. An Iranian strike hit this desalination plant in Kuwait. Most of Kuwait's freshwater supply comes from converted seawater.

President Trump's threats come as the U.S. has attacked the country for 11 consecutive days. Despite the barrage, America's top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said today the U.S. is still pursuing diplomacy, but sent a message of his own.

Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State: The president always prefers to negotiate and reach a deal on these things. And we're prepared, willing to do that. We have tried to do that now for a year-and-a-half, but we're also not going to sit by and let ships be blown up or Americans be attacked.

Liz Landers:

On the strait, the U.S. Navy has restarted its blockade, redirecting nine ships and disabling one since July 14.

The renewed fighting is once again spiking oil prices. The June cease-fire provided only a brief reprieve. Now the cost of a barrel is back near $95. For its part, Iran launched yet another wave of strikes across the Gulf this morning, seen in these volleys targeting U.S. bases in Jordan.

And on the ground in Southern Iran, grief from the early days of the Iran war. Mourners surrounded small coffins for a final farewell, newly identified victims of a strike on a girls' school that killed over 100 children in the first bombings of the war.

Back home on U.S. soil, the dignified transfer of four U.S. service members. All were killed in the last week. President Trump stood silent for one of the most solemn moments of any presidency; 25-year-old 1st Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan was killed in a missile attack in Jordan, along with 28-year-old Sergeant Angel S. Rampersad, and 19-year-old Private Isabella Gonzales; 30-year-old Staff Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton was killed in a control detonation of a drone in Iraq.

Since the war began in late February, 18 U.S. service members have been killed, four of whom made their final trip home today.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Liz Landers.