US Strikes Railway Bridge Linking Iran to China and Russia Amid Renewed Conflict

The United States struck a railway bridge in northern Iran that serves as a key link on the rail corridor connecting Iran to China and Russia, Iran’s semi official Fars News Agency reported Thursday, marking a second consecutive day of renewed American strikes on the country.

Cruise Missiles Hit Strategic Rail Corridor

The attack targeted the Ogtay Khan railway bridge in Golestan province, in Iran’s northeast. Fars described the bridge as a critical point on the railway line connecting China, Turkmenistan and Iran, a corridor that also feeds into Iran’s rail links with Russia. The strike came alongside separate disruptions to passenger service between Tehran and Mashhad, after what local residents described as a US-Israeli strike hit a section of that line. Iran’s state railway said repair crews were dispatched and stranded passengers would be moved to Mashhad by road.

Strikes Tied to Hormuz Tensions

US Central Command said American forces carried out the additional strikes to limit Iran’s ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation follows the collapse of a Pakistan brokered framework agreement reached on June 17 between Iran and the US, which had aimed to end hostilities and open the door to a lasting peace deal. President Donald Trump declared the agreement “over” on Wednesday, triggering the fresh round of strikes.