Tracking recent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure
Tracking Recent US-Israeli Strikes on Iranian Infrastructure
As the conflict between the US and Israel intensifies, President Donald Trump has vowed to strike key infrastructure in Iran unless a deal is reached to end hostilities by Tuesday night. His rhetoric, including claims that the nation would be “bombed back to the Stone Ages,” highlights a focus on disrupting bridges, power plants, and other critical facilities. Social media posts from Trump further emphasized the stakes, warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if negotiations fail.
BBC Verify has confirmed that US and Israeli forces have launched strikes targeting multiple Iranian infrastructure sites in recent weeks. Among the confirmed hits are two steel plants, three bridges, and a pharmaceutical facility, according to verified reports. These attacks have raised concerns over their impact on everyday Iranians, with schools and hospitals also sustaining damage since the conflict began.
On Thursday, US air strikes hit a bridge under construction in Karaj, central Iran. Local officials reported at least 13 casualties, while footage validated by BBC Verify displayed two strikes leaving a visible gap in the structure. Trump later shared the video online, asserting that “the biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again,” and hinted at more strikes to come.
Impact on Steel Production
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that strikes have disrupted up to 70% of Iran’s steel manufacturing capacity. Arman Mahmoudian, a researcher at the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute, warned that this could severely affect the Iranian economy. “Steel is a cornerstone of Iran’s non-oil economic capacity,” he said. “If Israeli strikes have dismantled around 70% of its steel production, nearly 20 million tons of output could be at risk, potentially harming 3–3.5% of the country’s GDP.”
Verification of damage at the Khuzestan Steel Company, Iran’s second-largest producer, showed significant destruction. Local officials estimate repairs could take up to a year. Meanwhile, the Isfahan Mobarakeh Steel company, the country’s largest manufacturer, was hit on 27 March, forcing operations to halt. The plant exported approximately $860 million between March 2025 and January 2026, according to company-linked data.
Pharmaceutical and Educational Strikes
On 31 March, Israeli forces struck the Tofigh Daru Research & Engineering Company, a major pharmaceutical producer in Iran. The IDF claimed the target had been exporting chemical substances, including fentanyl, used in developing weapons. While the BBC cannot independently confirm this, the attack threatens Iran’s access to essential medicines. Mahmoudian noted that such strikes could undermine Tehran’s “medical independence,” even if pharmaceuticals constitute a smaller portion of the economy.
Verified images suggest severe damage to educational institutions. A weekend attack on Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran left debris scattered across its campus, with parts of the building destroyed. Earlier, strikes on the capital caused visible damage to Sharif University of Technology. Religious sites have also been targeted, including the Husseinya Mosque in Zanjan, where an attack damaged sections of the structure and killed two individuals, also destroying a clinic and library within the complex.
Railway Targets and Ongoing Threats
On Tuesday, the IDF announced it had bombed 10 “key” locations along Iran’s railway network. A video from Aminabad village in central Iran confirmed the collapse of a railway bridge, likely due to these strikes. The Iranian Red Crescent shared footage of paramedics responding to the damage, underscoring the toll on transportation and emergency services. These coordinated attacks continue to escalate tensions, with infrastructure becoming a focal point in the broader conflict.
