President Donald Trump announced during a Monday press conference that he personally ordered the U.S. military strike that destroyed Iran’s newly constructed B1 Bridge in Karaj, a major infrastructure project west of Tehran. The attack occurred last Thursday amid escalating tensions in the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, after Iranian negotiators, according to Trump, reneged on a emerging deal to end hostilities.
The B1 Bridge, one of the largest and tallest suspension bridges in the region at approximately 136 meters high and costing around $400 million, was nearing completion and slated for opening later this year. It linked Karaj to Tehran and was viewed by U.S. officials as a potential military asset for transporting weapons and supplies to western Iran. Iranian sources reported that civilians were gathered nearby for picnics and celebrations on the final day of Nowruz (Sizdah be-dar). The strike, which included a reported double-tap attack, killed at least eight people and injured around 95 to 100 others, though independent verification remains limited.
Trump described the decision-making process vividly: Negotiators led by Vice President JD Vance informed him that Iran was backing out of the agreement. “We were very close to a deal,” he said. He recalled instructing his team to tell the Iranians to “look out their window and watch.” Within 45 minutes, Trump gave the order to target the bridge, and it was destroyed just 10 minutes later. He shared dramatic video footage of the collapse on Truth Social, captioned: “The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again — Much more to follow! IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF WHAT STILL COULD BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY!”
U.S. military sources defended the bridge as a legitimate target due to its strategic value in supporting Iranian military logistics. However, Democrats and some international observers have condemned the action as a potential war crime, arguing it deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure in violation of the Geneva Conventions.
In broader remarks Monday, Trump claimed progress in U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran’s military capabilities, stating core objectives were nearing completion. He warned that American forces would continue striking “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks, including possible targeting of power plants and other bridges. Iran has rejected U.S. cease-fire demands, including full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. Tehran insists any lasting peace requires an end to strikes, guarantees against resumption, and compensation for damages, while maintaining control over the strait and the right to impose fees on vessels.
Trump set a firm deadline tied to reopening oil transit through the strait, threatening widespread infrastructure strikes if unmet. By Tuesday, reports indicated Iran vowed retaliation against Gulf neighbors and U.S.-linked facilities, escalating fears of a wider regional conflict. Trump has framed the actions as necessary to force a deal, asserting America is “winning bigger than ever.”
