[Herald Economy — Staff Reporter Yoon Seong-hyun] The U.S. military reportedly briefed President Donald Trump on a new operational plan aimed at Iran. Discussion that advanced weapon systems could be deployed to the Middle East has pushed tensions between Washington and Tehran higher.On April 30 (ET), Israel’s N12 reported that CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper, who oversees U.S. operations in the Middle East, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Cain spent about 45 minutes briefing President Trump on Iran-related operational plans. N12 cited two senior U.S. officials for the account.
N12 also said Trump received a similar briefing on Feb. 26, two days before the United States and Israel carried out surprise airstrikes on Iran. Analysts argue that earlier briefing helped shape the president’s decision to use military force.
The outlet interpreted the latest briefing as suggesting that “President Trump is weighing a return to hostile actions to break the deadlock in negotiations with Iran, or is seriously considering a final, decisive strike before hostilities end.”
Multiple sources say CENTCOM has drawn up a short, high-intensity airstrike plan against Iran. Officials indicate those strikes would likely target Iran’s critical infrastructure.
Reports also indicate planners proposed seizing control of part of the Strait of Hormuz. One source said an operation to control a section of the strait to reopen commercial and tanker traffic may have been presented to President Trump. Observers note such an operation could include the deployment of ground forces.
U.S. special operations to secure Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium are also listed among possible options. In short, several measures that would significantly increase military pressure are now under consideration.
The U.S. moves coincide with consideration of deploying cutting-edge missile capabilities to the region. Bloomberg reported, citing anonymous sources, that CENTCOM requested the Middle East deployment of the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) known as “Dark Eagle,” which could directly target Iranian ballistic missile launchers.
Dark Eagle is designed to fly at more than five times the speed of sound and to perform evasive maneuvers to defeat air defenses, though it has not yet been deployed in combat.
