The top United States (US) military commander in the Middle East briefed President of US Donald Trump on Thursday on military options for Iran, as Washington DC considers resuming major combat operations against Tehran, an international media outlet has reported.
Top US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander in the Middle East Admiral Brad Cooper, attended the White House meeting alongside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine.
Other cabinet members also joined the discussions, which covered several issues, including the ongoing US blockade, according to officials and people familiar with the meeting.
The gathering followed a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, where military officials met Vice President JD Vance, one of the people familiar with the discussions said.
The meetings came as Trump administration officials urged Arab Gulf states to prepare for a short and intense military campaign against Iran after the US midterm elections. Meanwhile, Vance had also reached out to one of Iran’s senior hard-line figures in an effort to revive peace negotiations.
Trump had hinted at the possibility of renewed military action during a rally last week, referring to the US and Israeli bombing campaign against Iran in the spring.
“We may do another little Epic Fury,” Trump said. “Or they’ll agree.”
Cooper rarely briefs Trump in person, making Thursday’s meeting notable as Washington weighs its next military steps towards Iran. The admiral last met the president in July, when they held discussions aboard Air Force One in Delaware alongside Hegseth and Caine.
The discussions took place amid concerns among US lawmakers that Trump could resume military operations against Tehran. Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut who said that he had previously received briefings on some of the classified military planning, criticised the reported plans.
Murphy described the proposals as “insane” during an appearance at the Middle East Institute on Wednesday. “It will lead to devastating escalation and the likely destruction of our commitment to the rule of law,” he said.
Iran hasvthreatened both publicly and through private diplomatic communications to target a wide range of US and Gulf interests across the region if Washington launches another strike.
Tehran had also resumed ballistic missile production using stockpiled components at underground facilities and stepped up efforts to target US personnel in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has taken steps towards preparing for another bombing campaign in recent weeks.
The US military had sent additional air defence systems, ammunition and supplies to the Middle East while moving some troops away from bases considered vulnerable to potential attacks.
The US Army was also moving another Patriot missile defence battery to Israel to strengthen its air defences amid concerns about a shortage of interceptors, which Washington had been working to replenish.
