“Deploy U.S. Ground Forces to Hormuz, Send Special Forces”
Officials Also Discussed Options for a Swift, Powerful Strike on Iran
Officials Also Discussed Options for a Swift, Powerful Strike on Iran
With the deadline for conducting military action against Iran without congressional approval set to expire on the 1st (local time), foreign media report that U.S. commanders briefed President Donald Trump on a range of military options. On the 30th, Axios reported that CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Keane gave Trump a 45-minute briefing on potential military actions targeting Iran.
U.K.-based Iran International reported details of the options the commanders presented. According to that outlet, options included deploying U.S. ground forces to islands around the Strait of Hormuz to reopen the shipping lane; dispatching special operations forces to the Isfahan region to secure and remove Iran’s stock of uranium enriched to 60 percent; and carrying out a rapid, high-impact airstrike on Iran. Iran International did not say which, if any, options were being seriously pursued.
Analysts say the U.S., which has declared an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, may be weighing more escalatory military measures to resolve the standoff. Earlier, Axios noted that arranging the briefing signaled the president was “seriously considering” resuming major combat operations to break a negotiation deadlock and deliver a decisive strike before formally ending the conflict.
Trump’s assessment that a reverse blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is proceeding smoothly adds another variable. On the 29th, he told Axios the blockade is “somewhat more effective than bombing.” Axios reported that Trump views the blockade as a key bargaining chip but could approve kinetic military action if Iran remains uncooperative.
The U.S. military has also reportedly considered forward-deploying advanced missile systems to the region. Bloomberg reported CENTCOM requested the long-range hypersonic weapon (LRHW) known as “Dark Eagle,” which would be capable of directly targeting Iran’s ballistic missile launchers.
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