Trump eyes fresh Iran military strikes as war rages and oil prices soar

Summary

Trump eyes fresh Iran military strikes as war rages and oil prices soar The plan, detailed by Axios on Wednesday, indicates that Brad Cooper, head of the U.S. Central Command, will present these potential options President Donald Trump is set to receive a briefing on a proposal for a new series of "short and powerful" military strikes targeting Iran's infrastructure, according to a recent report. The plan, detailed by Axios on Wednesday, indicates that Brad Cooper, head of the U.S. Central Command, will present these potential options. Neither the White House nor Central Command has yet responded to requests for comment regarding the report. Among the other strategies slated for discussion is a plan to seize control of a segment of the Strait of Hormuz to facilitate the resumption of commercial shipping. Such an operation could potentially require the deployment of ground forces. Another option for the briefing involves a special forces operation aimed at securing Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. This development emerges three weeks into a fragile ceasefire in the ongoing Iran War, which ignited on February 28 with initial attacks by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. Tehran subsequently retaliated with strikes on Israel and Gulf states hosting American military bases. The conflict, characterized by U.S.-Israeli operations within Iran and Israeli assaults in Lebanon, has tragically led to thousands of fatalities and displaced millions. The war, which faces significant domestic opposition, has severely disrupted global markets and driven up oil prices, effectively halting traffic through the Strait – a crucial maritime chokepoint for 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Washington reportedly hopes these aggressive measures will compel Iran to be more receptive to nuclear negotiations. The conflict has also exposed divisions within President Trump's political base, with once-staunch supporters, notably led by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, increasingly vocal about their disillusionment since the war's inception. Carlson has publicly accused the administration of misrepresenting Iran's nuclear capabilities. "It’s a lie. In fact, there is zero credible intelligence that suggests Iran is anywhere near building a bomb, or has plans to. None. Anyone who claims otherwise is ignorant or dishonest... They staked everything on it," the podcaster asserted, referring to Trump's efforts to engineer regime change. "That’s the biggest thing they’ve ever done. And it hasn’t worked." Trump has previously issued threats to dismantle Iran's civilian infrastructure, a move that international law experts caution could amount to war crimes under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which explicitly prohibit attacks on sites essential for civilian life. Trump has consistently portrayed Iran's nuclear program as an imminent threat, despite Tehran's insistence on its right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is also expected to be present at the briefing. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments