Iran has publicly released a list of eight strategic bridges across Gulf states as potential retaliation targets following a US strike that demolished the country's tallest bridge near Tehran. The move signals Tehran's intent to hit back hard, raising fears of broader regional conflict and disruptions to global trade routes.

The B1 bridge near Karaj, a critical artery linking Tehran to northern provinces and vital for daily commuters and freight, was obliterated by two US-Israeli airstrikes on Thursday. The assault left at least eight people dead and 95 injured, with the structure now in ruins and repair costs expected to run into millions. President Donald Trump, who recently warned of bombing Iran "back to the Stone Age," described the strike as a necessary step to neutralize Tehran's military threats. Local reports highlight immediate chaos: traffic gridlock, supply shortages, and stranded residents, underscoring how infrastructure losses amplify civilian suffering in ongoing hostilities.

Responding via Fars News Agency, affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, Tehran named eight key bridges in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan. These spans connect major ports, oil facilities, and urban hubs, making them prime for economic disruption if targeted. Similar strikes could echo the 2019 Abqaiq attack on Saudi oil plants, which briefly slashed half of the kingdom's output and spiked global prices. Analysts warn that severing these links might halt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil passes, potentially adding $5-10 per barrel amid already volatile markets.

This tit-for-tat comes amid Iran's recent missile and drone barrages on Israeli, Saudi, and UAE energy sites, met with Trump's vows to target more Iranian power plants and bridges. Gulf nations have so far absorbed such provocations but are fortifying defenses, wary of Houthi proxies reigniting blockades like those in the Red Sea.

Part of the US "Epic Fury" campaign launched earlier this year against Iranian nuclear and naval assets, the bridge strike fits a pattern of precision hits. Tehran frames its list as deterrence, but experts see it as psychological pressure to fracture US-Gulf alliances. Regional leaders urge restraint, with backchannel diplomacy underway, though Trump's administration shows no signs of backing down. Markets are jittery, with oil futures up 3% today as investors brace for fallout.