Trump threatens to attack Iran's infrastructure over Strait of Hormuz

[00:00:00]We begin with the war with Iran. The US has launched strikes on Iran for 11 straight days now. But back here at home, the focus is on the price of this war and the people who've made the ultimate sacrifice. The four soldiers who recently died in the conflict will be honored during a dignified transfer ceremony today at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. President Trump is among the dignitaries taking part. But earlier, the president posted a new threat against Iran on social media today writing, "If Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, it will cost them a bridge or a power plant." Let's go live to the White House and CBS News correspondent Natalie Brand. Hey Natalie, so what could this new threat from the president signal about where this war is heading?

[00:00:47]>> Hi Hugo. Well, it signals that the escalation ladder continues here with the president making these new threats against infrastructure, which he's long threatened even though some have said targeting civilian infrastructure could be considered a war crime.

[00:01:05]And CBS News has learned that according to Iranian state media, an anonymous Iranian military official is threatening to target infrastructure back saying that they could also hit infrastructure or even energy facilities where the US has interests in the Middle East. So we are seeing the escalation, the escalation in threats continue here. And of course, it's really ramped up in light of these US troops have who have been killed and dozens more injured and ultimately over the the standoff that continues in the Strait of Hormuz with the US military saying it's 11th consecutive night of of strikes against Iran really is trying to degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking commercial shipping in the strait.

[00:01:54]>> And Natalie, CBS News has confirmed that the US and Saudi Arabia are signing a nuclear deal today. What have we learned about what's in that deal?

[00:02:05]>> Yeah, according to CBS News and Margaret Brennan's reporting, this deal would be an agreement for US companies to help build up nuclear infrastructure on Saudi soil for Saudi use for things like artificial intelligence and its civilian nuclear program. The Wall Street Journal first reported the deal and said that American companies would provide some nuclear technology, play a central role in building out this infrastructure.

[00:02:36]It's important to note that Saudi Arabia has long said it wants to develop a nuclear program to really bolster its electric grid, not for nuclear weapons.

[00:02:44]But then we also have some past statements by the Crown Prince, including in a CBS News 60 Minutes interview with Nora O'Donnell. And the Crown Prince said that if Iran successfully developed a a nuclear bomb, it would then follow suit. So it has some here in the US, some US lawmakers concerned about a nuclear arms race potentially developing in the Middle East. And it is also important to note that Congress would have to be consulted and ultimately review this deal as well, Norah.

[00:03:17]>> Okay, Natalie Brand at the White House.

[00:03:19]Thank you so much.

[00:03:21]Defense Secretary Pete Buttigieg was on Capitol Hill yesterday asking for more money to fund the war with Iran. He said the cost of the war so far is at nearly $38 billion, but sources tell CBS News that number could be far higher.

[00:03:35]Buttigieg had this combative exchange when asked about the cost yesterday.

[00:03:39]>> Senator, the estimate we have as of today's 37.5 billion.

[00:03:44]>> And is the current activity which we've been told about, the exchange of fire back and forth uh in Iran, an indication that number is going to go up in the months ahead.

[00:03:54]>> Some of some of that number captures additional O&M mill pay and other that would be anticipated through the fiscal year. So, some of that anticipates what costs would be going out in the future as well.

[00:04:05]>> Okay, let's bring in CBS News senior national security correspondent Charlie D'Agata joining us from Jordan today. Uh Charlie, why do sources say the cost of this war could be much higher than what Secretary Hagel said so >> Yeah, Muca, that's right. Sources tell CBS News that's just a fraction of the cost when you include uh like the reconstruction of US military bases and facilities throughout the Middle East which have come under repeated attacks from Iran especially in the early days of the conflict. So, the true extent of the damage uh US officials will not share with me.

[00:04:39]It's under wraps. They say um that has to do with operational security. And but that includes attacks on radar centers and an air base uh here in Jordan which resulted in the killing of those three US soldiers, uh wounding dozens more.

[00:04:53]And what Secretary Hagel said is requesting includes a forecast really for what the war is going to to continue to cost through September 30th. Now, you have to add to that 30 to that request and stay with me 87.6 billion dollars supplement funding and that's to replenish like munitions to sustain military readiness. So, military officials uh told CBS News back in May the war even at that point had cost 29 billion dollars to that point. So, you're you're talking about replenishing munitions including countless um interceptors, cruise missiles, etc. Um and before a return to hostilities that we've been reporting for the past 12 days or so, um the US had launched 12,000 air strikes. Uh Secretary Hagel said said the number he's requesting is as you heard for training personnel. And let's remind everybody stay with me.

[00:05:45]This is in addition to the $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget to begin with.

[00:05:51]>> Okay Charlie, so let's talk about the war because after 11 straight nights of US attacks, do we even know how effective they've been against Iran's military and what it means for where this conflict is headed?

[00:06:06]>> Yeah, you know, we've been watching those attacks here Jordan and monitoring what's going on and if the attended mission is to break Iran's siege of the Strait of Hormuz is what Central Command continues to contend. Obviously that hasn't happened yet. Um It hasn't stopped Iran from launching strikes on ships passing through the strait. And according to the statement from CENTCOM, they continue to try to degrade Iran's ability to fire at ships in the strait while at the same time in that same statement saying that Iran had been targeting as many as 30 ships in the past few weeks. So that hasn't stopped and the US military blockade is still in place. And honestly every indication that we'll be looking at the 12th straight night of US air strikes. We've been reporting it from this rooftop every night that it's been happening. No indication that that's going to stop or that Iran will not stop retaliating and that has actually increased here in Jordan in the past week or so where they really hadn't had it for weeks since the beginning of the conflict but now European agencies are trying to close off Jordanian airspace because the amount of missiles and drones that are coming into this area. So that's where we stand tonight with really no sign of a breakthrough on the diplomatic front.

[00:07:25]>> Okay, Charlie D'Agata in Jordan for us today. Thank you so much.