Tracking recent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure

Recent US-Israeli Strikes Target Iranian Infrastructure

Leaders of the United States and Israel have escalated their attacks on Iran’s critical infrastructure, with President Donald Trump vowing to strike bridges and power plants across the country unless a deal is reached to end the conflict. His remarks, made on Tuesday, included a strong warning that Iran could be “bombed back to the Stone Ages” if negotiations fail. The leader also claimed that a “whole civilization will die tonight” without an agreement, emphasizing the scale of potential destruction.

Impact on Daily Life and Economy

Since the war began, infrastructure targeted by strikes has disrupted essential services for ordinary Iranians. Schools and hospitals have been damaged, while recent actions have focused on industrial sites. BBC Verify confirmed that over the past two weeks, US and Israeli forces have hit at least two steel plants, three bridges, and a pharmaceutical facility. These attacks have raised concerns among some Democratic lawmakers and UN officials, who warned they could constitute war crimes.

Strikes on Key Infrastructure Sites

On Thursday, US aircraft targeted a bridge under construction in Karaj, central Iran. Local authorities reported 13 fatalities, with verified footage showing two strikes that left a large gap in the structure. Trump later shared the footage online, declaring, “The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again,” and hinting at further attacks.

Steel is a cornerstone of Iran’s non-oil economic capacity. If Israeli strikes have indeed dismantled around 70% of Iran’s steel production capability, this would place nearly 20 million tons of output at risk, potentially affecting around 3–3.5% of Iran’s GDP.

Arman Mahmoudian, a research fellow at the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute, highlighted the economic consequences of the strikes. He noted that damage to steel facilities could severely impact Iran’s economy, particularly after verified footage showed smoke rising from the Isfahan Mobarakeh Steel company, forcing operations to halt. Satellite images confirmed damage at the Khuzestan Steel Company, Iran’s second-largest producer, which might take up to a year to repair.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the strikes disrupted up to 70% of Iran’s steel manufacturing ability. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical targets have also been hit. On 31 March, an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson confirmed a strike on the Tofigh Daru Research & Engineering Company, a major producer of anaesthetic and cancer drugs. The IDF alleged the facility had been exporting chemical substances, including fentanyl, used in developing chemical weapons.

Damage to Educational and Religious Sites

Verified images revealed severe damage to educational institutions. Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran showed debris around its exterior, with parts of the building destroyed following a reported attack. Sharif University of Technology also sustained damage after strikes on the capital. Religious sites were not spared, with photos confirming an attack on the Husseinya Mosque in Zanjan that killed two people and destroyed a clinic and library within the complex.

The BBC Verify team cannot independently confirm the IDF’s claim about the pharmaceutical facility’s role in chemical weapons. Despite Iranian media stating that over 90% of pharmaceuticals are produced domestically, the verification process has yet to confirm this. Strikes on the sector could limit access to essential medicines and threaten Tehran’s medical independence, according to Mahmoudian.