Reuters: President Donald Trump will receive a briefing on Thursday from US Central Command leader Brad Cooper on new plans for potential military action against Iran, according to Axios, citing unnamed sources. The White House and CENTCOM have not yet commented. One proposed plan involves a “short and powerful” wave of strikes targeting key Iranian infrastructure. Another focuses on securing parts of the Strait of Hormuz to restore commercial shipping, potentially involving ground forces.
A fragile ceasefire in the Iran war began three weeks ago. The conflict started on February 28 when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliation against Israel and Gulf states hosting US bases. The fighting, including Israeli operations in Lebanon, has caused thousands of deaths and mass displacement.
Trump has previously threatened to target Iran’s civilian infrastructure, which international law experts warn could violate the 1949 Geneva Conventions that prohibit attacks on essential civilian sites.
The war has disrupted global markets and sharply increased oil prices, with traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—responsible for about 20% of global oil and LNG shipments—nearly halted. The US aims to pressure Iran into making concessions on nuclear negotiations. Another option under consideration is a special forces mission to secure Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Trump has described Iran’s nuclear programme as an imminent threat, while Tehran denies pursuing nuclear weapons and maintains its right to peaceful nuclear development under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine is also expected to attend the briefing.
