CENTCOM Commander Briefs Trump on Iran War Options
US President Donald Trump is scheduled to receive a briefing on Thursday (April 30) on plans for potential military action in Iran, according to a report by US media outlet Axios, citing sources familiar with the agenda.
The briefing is said to be delivered by US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper, with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine also expected to attend, according to two sources cited by Axios. The session is seen as reflecting Washington's seriousness in considering resuming large-scale military operations, both to try to break the deadlock in negotiations and to apply final pressure before a war is over.
According to three sources familiar with the plans, CENTCOM is preparing a wave of attacks described as "short and devastating" against Iran, with targets likely including infrastructure, in the hope of getting Iran to return to the negotiating table and be more flexible on the nuclear issue.
Other options said to be outlined include taking control of part of the Strait of Hormuz and reopening it to commercial shipping, which one source said could involve ground forces. An additional option that may have resurfaced is a special forces operation to secure Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Simultaneously, spot gold rose 1.5% to US$4,616.42 per ounce at 9:58 a.m. in London. This gain came after gold fell 3.4% in the previous three sessions. Meanwhile, the more active July Brent contract rose 1.0% to US$111.62 per barrel, while June WTI added 0.9% to US$107.85 per barrel.
Previously, Trump asserted that he would maintain a naval blockade against Iran until a nuclear deal was reached. In a statement to Axios on Wednesday (April 29 local time), Trump said Tehran wanted a deal for the US to lift the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, but he refused because he believed Iran should not have nuclear weapons. (gn)*
Source: Newsmaker.id
