Prolaz Hormus: kako su se iranski ribari našli između dva fronta

US President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with attacks on power plants and bridges unless Tehran returns to negotiations, according to a recent interview with Fox News. He warned that all power plants and bridges would be destroyed “unless they come to the negotiating table and negotiate.” Trump also announced further attacks in the coming nights, stating that these operations would continue “until I say enough.” This marks a return to earlier threats made by Trump in April, when he had similarly warned of destroying all bridges and power plants within hours. At that time, his goal was to pressure Tehran into opening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, crucial for global oil and liquefied gas trade. However, he did not follow through on that threat. Now, the situation appears more intense, with renewed military actions reported on both sides. The US military has once again targeted Iranian sites, while Iran’s armed forces have retaliated against allied Gulf states such as Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. The latest air strikes, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), aim to weaken Iran's capabilities to attack commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate that the city of Bushehr, home to Iran’s only active nuclear power plant, was among the targets. Additionally, seven military personnel were killed during an attack in the southeast region of Iran. CENTCOM confirmed that a 90-minute wave of attacks concluded on Wednesday afternoon. The United States has resumed blocking Iranian ports, a measure previously suspended under a framework agreement reached in mid-June. Trump, however, withdrew from his previous proposal to impose a 20 percent toll on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, he is now considering trade and investment agreements with Gulf states. Iran has reiterated its determination to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz, recently declaring the strategic waterway closed again. The Revolutionary Guard has also threatened to close additional shipping routes to exert pressure on the US and its allies, stating that energy exports will either be shared by all or denied to all. The US is intensifying pressure on Tehran through expanded sanctions targeting Iran’s oil sector. New measures focus particularly on the network of Mohammad Hossein Sharmachi, an influential Iranian oil magnate, according to the US Treasury Department. Finance Minister Scott Bessent stated that assets worth $130 million (approximately €114 million) held in digital wallets linked to Iran’s central bank have been frozen. These actions reflect ongoing efforts to undermine Iran’s economic stability. The conflict between the US and Iran escalated on February 28 when both countries launched coordinated attacks. A framework agreement was reached in June to end hostilities, aiming to serve as a basis for deeper negotiations. However, talks have stalled before recent attacks intensified tensions further. In Bandar Abbas, a city with a population of around 500,000, the impact of the conflict has been felt directly. On July 8, a missile or cruise missile struck the nearby fishing port of Pandsch Pele early in the morning, shortly after Trump announced the termination of the ceasefire with Iran. Local fishermen described the explosion as powerful enough to shake them. One fisherman, Mostafa, recounted seeing burning boats and debris scattered everywhere after checking on his motorboat. Another local guard reported being injured by shattered window glass and having to carry a man who did not survive the incident. The attack reportedly targeted the coast guard monitoring center located in the harbor rather than the fishermen themselves. However, the area is known to house both coast guard patrol boats and Revolutionary Guard speedboats. Two witnesses told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that five such boats were present at the pier. They suggested that the presence of these boats might have shielded some civilian vessels from direct harm. Following the attack, Iranian authorities claimed that 30 fishing boats were destroyed, although other accounts suggest fewer than five were completely destroyed, with many others suffering damaged engines. The heat from the explosions melted all fishing nets. According to CENTCOM, 90 military targets were attacked to weaken Iran’s ability to attack commercial ships and innocent civilians in the Strait of Hormuz. Ali, another witness, noted that the Pandsch-Pele harbor is located in a residential area at the heart of the city, making it difficult to distinguish safe from unsafe areas. As a result, fishermen have pulled their boats back to their homes following the attack. Military analyst Farzin Nadimi from the Washington Institute explained that the Revolutionary Guard frequently uses fishing harbors for covert operations and fast boat deployments, increasing the risk of civilian casualties. The Revolutionary Guard also utilizes complex tunnel systems carved into cliffs along the Persian Gulf islands to hide boats and weapons. The US military has been conducting daily attacks along the southern coast of Iran since July 7. Recent reports indicate that the United Arab Emirates released 55 Iranians from custody, initially detained under special conditions by the UAE coast guard at the start of the conflict. Iran refers to these individuals as fishermen, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.