Tracking recent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure

Tracking Recent US-Israeli Strikes on Iranian Infrastructure

US and Israeli forces have intensified attacks on Iran’s critical infrastructure, with President Donald Trump vowing to strike key sites unless a peace agreement is reached. Speaking on Tuesday night, he warned that Iran would face devastation unless negotiations succeed, declaring that US military action would destroy bridges and power plants. Social media posts from Trump highlighted the potential for “a whole civilization to perish” if the deal fails.

Since the conflict escalated, Iranian civilians have faced damage to schools, hospitals, and other essential facilities. BBC Verify has confirmed that at least two steel manufacturing plants, three bridges, and a pharmaceutical facility were hit in the past fortnight. These strikes, which target vital economic and social infrastructure, have raised concerns among US lawmakers and UN representatives about their classification as war crimes.

Impact on Steel Production

On Thursday, US aircraft bombed a bridge in Karaj, central Iran, killing 13 individuals. Verified footage showed two strikes that left a significant gap in the structure, with cranes visible near the site. Trump later shared clips of the destruction, claiming the “largest bridge in Iran” was rendered unusable. Additional strikes have targeted steel facilities, including the Isfahan Mobarakeh Steel Company and the Khuzestan Steel Company, both of which are key to Iran’s industrial output.

“Steel is a cornerstone of Iran’s non-oil economic capacity,” said Arman Mahmoudian, a research fellow at the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute. “If Israeli strikes have dismantled 70% of the country’s steel production, nearly 20 million tons of output could be lost, potentially reducing GDP by 3–3.5%.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that 10 “strategic” railway components in Iran had been bombed. Verified images from Aminabad village revealed a collapsed bridge, while another video from the Iranian Red Crescent showed paramedics responding to the damage. The strikes on the pharmaceutical sector, including the Tofigh Daru Research & Engineering Company, have disrupted Iran’s ability to produce essential drugs like anaesthetics and cancer treatments.

Local officials reported that the attacks on the Tofigh Daru facility, one of Iran’s largest drug manufacturers, were justified by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), which alleged the company was involved in chemical weapon development. However, the BBC has not independently confirmed this claim. Meanwhile, educational and religious sites have also suffered. Footage from Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran showed parts of the building destroyed, while a mosque in Zanjan was hit, killing two people and damaging a clinic and library within the complex.

Iranian media previously stated that over 90% of pharmaceuticals are made domestically, but BBC Verify could not confirm this. The ongoing strikes have raised fears about the long-term effects on Iran’s economy and healthcare system, with experts warning of potential shortages and dependency issues. As the conflict continues, the cumulative damage to infrastructure may redefine the country’s resilience and capacity to sustain its population.