US air force strikes twice on the Karaj Bridge in Iran
- The US air force has struck the Karaj Bridge in the region of Tehran on two occasions.
- This significant structure, which had not yet been officially inaugurated, was meant to connect the Iranian capital to the Caspian Sea more quickly.
- Let’s take a look at the situation.
One month after the start of strikes in Iran, the American-Israeli coalition is increasingly targeting civilian infrastructure. The B1 Bridge in Karaj, in the Tehran region, was attacked on Thursday, April 2. The airstrikes, carried out from the air, took place in two phases. “The American-Zionist enemy once again targeted the B1 Bridge in Karaj,” reported Iranian state television, specifying that “it had already been targeted an hour earlier.” “This new attack took place while rescuers were mobilized to assist the victims” of the first strike, it added. According to Ghodratollah Seif, vice-governor of the province – close to Tehran – of Alborz, cited by several local media, at least 8 people have been killed, and 95 injured.
A symbolic target… but not only?
In this case, the Karaj Bridge was a symbolic target, as it is one of the country’s most important infrastructures. Despite Western sanctions, Iranians managed to achieve a real feat by building this modern gem, 1.2 kilometers long and 136 meters high – presented by Iran as the tallest of its kind in the Middle East. It was due to be inaugurated soon and was supposed to make it easier to connect the capital Tehran to the Caspian Sea in the north. “This is a huge blow for Iranian civil society. This bridge was supposed to facilitate the passage of Iranians. It was still under construction and was supposed to allow (eventually) residents of Tehran and its suburbs to quickly travel to the north and the Caspian Sea,” explains Didier Idjadi, a sociologist, academic, and Iranian political refugee, on LCI.
“Using the maneuvering capabilities of the Iranian army on its own territory”
Beyond the symbolic aspect, some experts believe that this operation could be useful militarily. “The infrastructure is certainly intended for civilians. But it also connects Tehran with the Caspian, a sea also bordered by… Russia. Surely that’s where the Shahed drones circulate (between the two countries). So, the idea is to use the exchange capacities between Russia and Iran via the Caspian,” explains Anthony Dabila, a researcher associated with the Institute of Strategic and Defense Studies (IESD), on LCI.
Overall, the Iranian territory extends over mostly hostile terrain, including large mountainous areas. Therefore, without this type of large-scale infrastructure, “Iran can no longer maneuver (militarily), or it becomes much more difficult,” adds the expert, advancing “the idea of using the maneuvering capabilities of the Iranian army on its own territory.”
The Iranian regime, however, announced that such attacks do not change its position, while Donald Trump urges Iran to negotiate (on its terms) and sign an agreement “before there is nothing left of what could still become a great country.” “Striking civilian structures, including unfinished bridges, will not compel Iranians to surrender. It only conveys the defeat and moral collapse of an enemy in disarray. Every bridge and building will be built back stronger,” emphasizes Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi. “What will never recover: damage to America’s standing,” he concludes.
