U.S. Continues To Launch Strikes Against Iran. They Are Reportedly Aimed At Expanding Options For Further Escalation

Recent strikes against Iran are not only seeking to degrade Iran's capabilities to block the Strait of Hormuz, but also pave the way for further escalation should President Donald Trump decide to, according to a new report.

Citing officials familiar with the matter, Reuters detailed that the strikes strengthen additional military options for Trump. They have been aimed at air defense systems, coastal radars, missile and drone sites, as well as maritime assets.

One of them told the outlet that they could be "shaping operation" in case U.S. forces need to conduct more extensive operations in the future. "This is helping set the stage, if needed," the official added.

Trump said in an interview earlier this week that he would strike Iranian key infrastructure if Tehran does not return to negotiating.

Speaking to Fox News' Trey Ingst, Trump said "next week it gets really bad for them." "Next week comes the power plants, next week comes the bridges. We're going to knock out all of their power plants. We'll knock out all of their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate," he said.

Axios reported that Trump held a Situation Room meeting on Tuesday to discuss a new offense against Iran, which would expand from the strikes around the Strait of Hormuz that have been taking place over the past days.

Iran, in turn, vowed to "crush" targets in the Middle East if the U.S. follows through on Trump's threat.

Concretely, a spokesperson for Iran's top military command said that "everything that is still intact," making reference to "all the infrastructure in the region, will be crushed under the steel blows of the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran; so that no trace of them remains and it is as if they never existed in the first place."

"Under no circumstances and in no way will we allow America, as a foreign and extra-regional country, to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz," the spokesperson added, claiming that is "Iran's invincible red line."

The latest strike took place on Wednesday night, with the Central Command saying it targeted "command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten innocent mariners crewing commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz."

"CENTCOM used precision munitions to hit targets in multiple locations including Bandar Abbas," the body added in a publication.