Trump threatens to destroy Iranian civilian infrastructure for every attack on ships in Strait of Hormuz

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News Roundup: Trump Threatens War Crimes, Venezuelan Oil Funds Missing

Publication Date: 2026-07-22

Trump Threatens to Target Civilian Infrastructure in Iran

President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to escalate U.S. military actions against Iran by targeting civilian infrastructure in response to attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump vowed to destroy "one bridge or power plant" for every Iranian attack on a ship in the strait.

Targeting civilian infrastructure is prohibited by international humanitarian law. Attacking a power plant would cause disproportionate harm to Iranian civilians.

If Trump follows through on this threat, it would not be the first time the U.S. military has been accused of committing war crimes during the president's military campaign against Iran. According to reports, the U.S. military has already:

• Bombed a nuclear power plant.
• Executed a deadly double-tap strike on a bridge.
• Violated the rules of engagement.
• Killed dozens of children at a primary school.

Trump's reliance on such tactics is seen as a sign of failed negotiation strategy. The president's plan appears to be to continue bombing until the other side capitulates. Meanwhile, the U.S. military is reportedly running out of weapons and funding.

The threat to escalate these strikes comes as the death toll of U.S. service members has risen to 18, with hundreds more injured.

Read more: Trump Tries to Claim That 18 Dead Soldiers Is a Good Thing, Actually

$13 Billion in Venezuelan Oil Revenue Unaccounted For

The Trump administration has generated approximately $13 billion from seizing control of Venezuela's oil exports following the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro, according to a Financial Times analysis. However, six months later—and one month after two devastating earthquakes—the whereabouts of that money remain unclear.

When Trump first seized the oil in January, his administration assumed complete control and later stated that profits would be used for "the benefit of the American people and the Venezuelan people." The State Department has claimed that "billions of dollars have been disbursed to the Venezuelan economy" and that "financial monitoring is under way."

Despite these claims, no evidence has emerged to confirm that the funds have reached the Venezuelan people. The Financial Times reported Wednesday that there is no proof of oil money being returned to Venezuela, and the country's first-quarter gross domestic product was the lowest in five years.

"Trump's invasion of Venezuela has been about oil, power, and graft from the very beginning, with billions of dollars in Venezuelan oil revenue being controlled by the Trump administration without transparency or safeguards," Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro told the FT. He added that Congress has been "kept in the dark."

On Tuesday, Republican Representative María Elvira Salazar called on Trump to disclose the transactions, citing "the importance of transparency over where the money is going."

Oil makes up nearly a quarter of Venezuela's GDP. In January, Semafor reported that Trump planned to keep proceeds from the first $500 million sale of Venezuelan oil in an offshore bank account based in Qatar.

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