US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper will brief President Donald Trump on Thursday on new plans for potential military action against Iran, Axios reported, citing unidentified sources.
The White House and CENTCOM have not commented. The briefing comes three weeks into a fragile ceasefire in the Iran war, which began when the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
What new Iran military options is Trump being briefed on?
CENTCOM has prepared a plan for a "short and powerful" wave of strikes on Iran, likely targeting infrastructure, Axios reported. A second option focuses on seizing part of the Strait of Hormuz using ground forces to reopen it to commercial shipping.
A third option involves a special forces operation to secure Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Washington hopes the new military options will make Iran more flexible at the nuclear negotiating table, according to Axios.
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is also expected to attend Thursday's briefing. The report did not indicate whether Trump had been asked to approve any of the options.
Why is the US considering strikes on Iranian infrastructure?
Trump has previously threatened to destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure as a pressure tactic. International law experts say such strikes may amount to war crimes. The 1949 Geneva Conventions prohibit attacks on sites considered essential for civilian populations.
The Iran war began on February 28 when the US and Israel struck Iran. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states hosting US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions since the conflict began.
What is happening at the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz is a chokepoint for roughly 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, and the war has brought traffic through it close to a standstill.
One of the options to be presented to Trump involves using ground forces to seize part of the strait and reopen it to commercial shipping. The disruption has shaken financial markets and pushed oil prices higher.
The Iran war remains unpopular in the United States, adding political pressure on the Trump administration to find a path toward resolution. Washington has already imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports as part of its broader pressure campaign. The new military options appear designed to complement that strategy rather than replace it.
Where do US-Iran nuclear negotiations stand?
Trump has cited Iran's nuclear program as an imminent threat and has made halting it the stated objective of the war.
Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons but says it has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Iran has held firm on its position, refusing to concede on core nuclear demands despite sustained military and economic pressure.
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