N Prabhakaran Dubai: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has drafted a series of contingency plans for "short and powerful" military s...
N Prabhakaran
Dubai: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has drafted a series of contingency plans for "short and powerful" military strikes against Iran, according to a report published Wednesday by Axios. The disclosure comes as the Trump administration weighs new escalatory measures to break a diplomatic stalemate over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Citing two anonymous sources with knowledge of the internal deliberations, the report outlines three primary military options currently under review:
A concentrated wave of kinetic strikes designed to cripple Iran’s economic and defensive infrastructure without committing to a long-term war.
A plan to use U.S. ground forces to seize and hold strategic portions of the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, which handles 20% of the world’s oil and gas, is currently seeing traffic nearly paralyzed due to the ongoing maritime standoff.
A high-risk special forces operation to locate and secure Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Military experts have expressed concern over this option, noting the significant intelligence gaps regarding the current location of the nuclear materials.
High-Stakes Briefing
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper is scheduled to brief President Donald Trump on these options Thursday. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is also expected to attend the White House meeting.
While President Trump has publicly praised the current naval blockade as "genius" and "100% foolproof," the administration is reportedly frustrated by Tehran's refusal to concede. "The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing," Trump told Axios in an interview, but added that he remains open to military action if negotiations remain stalled.
The report has already sent shockwaves through global energy markets. Brent crude surged to a new "war high" of $120 per barrel on Thursday morning as traders braced for a potential escalation in the Persian Gulf.
In Tehran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has signaled a defiant stance, stating they will not abandon their nuclear rights or yield control of the Strait in exchange for anything less than a total lifting of U.S. sanctions.
Neither the White House nor CENTCOM has officially commented on the Axios report.
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