President Trump is slated to get a Thursday briefing on new plans for potential military action in Iran from CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine also expected to attend. [1]
Axios reported that CENTCOM has prepared a plan for a "short and powerful" wave of strikes on Iran, likely including infrastructure targets. One option expected to be presented to Trump focuses on taking over part of the Strait of Hormuz to reopen it to commercial shipping, and it could include ground forces. Another option under discussion is a special forces raid to secure Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. [1]
The briefing comes as Trump weighs how hard to press Tehran. Axios said the session signaled he was seriously considering resuming major combat operations, either to break the negotiating deadlock or to deliver a final blow before ending the war. Trump told Axios on Wednesday that he saw a naval blockade on Iran as "somewhat more effective than the bombing," and two sources said he viewed that blockade as his main source of leverage, while still being open to military action if Iran refused to concede. [1]
Axios also reported that Cooper gave Trump a similar briefing on Feb. 26, two days before the U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran. [1]