explainer
Take a look at the multi-million dollar megastructures that could be threatened by President Trump’s “Bridge Day” ultimatum.
Published April 6, 2026
US President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy critical infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, and bring “hell” on Iran if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz in Tehran by early Wednesday morning.
President Trump casually referred to his plan, which many experts say amounted to a war crime, as “Bridge Day,” at a time when the United States and Israel have already bombed several Iranian universities, hospitals, schools, research centers, and pharmaceutical companies.
Just last week, a U.S. double-tap attack destroyed the newly built B1 bridge in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, killing eight civilians picnicking under the bridge as Iran celebrated Nowruz, the Persian new year. B1 was an unfinished project but was targeted as part of what analysts called a strategy to “de-develop” the country.
As President Trump’s other deadline on the Strait of Hormuz approaches, international observers are sounding the alarm about the consequences if the U.S. president actually orders the bombing of an Iranian bridge.
According to Iran’s Bridge Management System (BMS), there are approximately 300,000 bridges and technical structures in the country. Only about 185 bridges are longer than 100 meters (330 feet), and only 42 bridges have main spans (the longest unsupported distance between two consecutive columns) greater than 50 meters (165 feet).
Here are five of the most famous bridges in Iran based on size and economic importance.
Persian Gulf Bridge (Qeshm Island)
Location: Hormuzgan Province Dimensions: Length 3.4 km (2.1 miles) Status: Unfinished (15-18 percent physical progress) Background: The Persian Gulf Bridge has been a “dream project” for more than 50 years, breaking ground in 2011. The bridge remains unfinished due to lack of funds, but the huge underwater foundations and caissons are in place. Once completed, it will link Qeshm, the largest of Iran’s Gulf islands and believed to have an underground missile arsenal, with Bandar Abbas, Iran’s largest port on mainland Iran. What’s at stake: As it stands, the bridge represents up to $700 million in investment and is at the heart of an international north-south transportation corridor that also includes India and Russia. Targeting its massive concrete foundations would erase decades of national planning and directly attack Chinese-backed credit facilities, effectively dashing Iran’s hopes of a direct link to the island from the mainland.
Urmia Lake Bridge (Shaheed Kalantari Bridge)
Location: Between East and West Azerbaijan provinces Dimensions: 1.7 km (1 mile) long Background: Opened in November 2008 after 29 years of highly complex construction due to the highly saline and muddy nature of the lake bed What is at risk: This bridge connects Tabriz and Urmia, reducing the driving distance between the cities from 240 km to 130 km (150 km) 80 miles). Destroying the lake would not only cut off civilian movement between the two major states, but also dump 35 kilometers (22 miles) of steel piles and concrete into an already shrinking lake, potentially creating an ecological disaster.
saddle multi-level highway
Location: Tehran Dimensions: 11 km (7 miles) long, supported by 234 columns Background: Opened in November 2013, it is the 11th highest multi-level bridge in the world and the longest multi-level bridge in the Middle East. What’s at stake: The bridge, built entirely by Iranian engineers despite sanctions, is a major daily commuter artery for millions of people in Tehran. An attack here could cause mass casualties in the city, destroy a major artery of the capital’s transportation system and throw Tehran’s emergency evacuation system into disarray.
Karun 4 arch bridge
Location: Chahalmahal and Bakhtiari provinces Dimensions: Length 378 meters (1,240 ft), weight 3,800 tons Background: The bridge was completely designed and constructed by Iranian experts and opened in 2015. What’s at risk: As Iran’s longest arch bridge, it is an important route between Shahrekord and Izeh. Suspended directly above the dam reservoir and located close to the dam, bombing risks causing collateral damage to hydroelectric facilities and potentially causing deadly flooding in downstream areas.
Ghadir cable-stayed bridge (8th bridge)
Location: Ahvaz, Khuzestan Dimensions: Length 1,014 meters (3,327 ft), width 22 meters (72 ft) Background: Construction began in 2005, and the bridge was fully opened to the public in early 2012. What’s at risk: This bridge over the Qarun River is located in the center of Ahvaz. The city is the center of Iran’s oil and steel sectors. Destroying the structure would split the city in half, cutting off daily movement for families and emergency services in a province already hit by airstrikes.
