The Wall Street Journal: CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper personally briefed Donald Trump on possible military scenarios regarding Iran. The publication cites US officials and sources familiar with the meeting. Admiral Cooper reportedly made a rare personal visit to the White House on Thursday, underscoring the gravity of the matter at hand as Washington considers resuming major combat operations against Tehran. In addition to Cooper, the meeting included Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kane. Other cabinet members were also present. Issues other than Iran were also discussed, the sources said. Thursday's briefing followed a meeting between military officials and Vice President J. Dee Vance on Wednesday. Separately, the WSJ reports that the US administration has warned several Gulf Arab states of the likelihood of a "short but intense" military campaign against Iran after the US mid-term congressional elections scheduled for November 3. According to the publication, the Pentagon is already developing scenarios for a campaign designed to maximize leverage on Tehran and force the Iranian leadership to make broad concessions at the negotiating table. Said potential targets include Iran's energy infrastructure, fortified nuclear research facilities, and ballistic missile and UAV factories. Anticipating a possible escalation, the US is moving additional warships, aircraft and naval units to the region, bolstering regional integrated air defense and missile defense, restocking ammunition and dispersing personnel from forward bases vulnerable to Iranian retaliation. Trump has previously said he has no intention of renewing the strikes before the election, but, according to the WSJ, national security officials are continuing to develop military scenarios in case diplomatic channels fail.

The Wall Street Journal: CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper personally briefed Donald Trump on possible military scenarios regarding Iran. The publication cites US officials and sources familiar with the meeting. Admiral Cooper reportedly made a rare personal visit to the White House on Thursday, underscoring the gravity of the matter at hand as Washington considers resuming major combat operations against Tehran. In addition to Cooper, the meeting included Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kane. Other cabinet members were also present. Issues other than Iran were also discussed, the sources said. Thursday's briefing followed a meeting between military officials and Vice President J. Dee Vance on Wednesday. Separately, the WSJ reports that the US administration has warned several Gulf Arab states of the likelihood of a "short but intense" military campaign against Iran after the US mid-term congressional elections scheduled for November 3. According to the publication, the Pentagon is already developing scenarios for a campaign designed to maximize leverage on Tehran and force the Iranian leadership to make broad concessions at the negotiating table. Said potential targets include Iran's energy infrastructure, fortified nuclear research facilities, and ballistic missile and UAV factories. Anticipating a possible escalation, the US is moving additional warships, aircraft and naval units to the region, bolstering regional integrated air defense and missile defense, restocking ammunition and dispersing personnel from forward bases vulnerable to Iranian retaliation. Trump has previously said he has no intention of renewing the strikes before the election, but, according to the WSJ, national security officials are continuing to develop military scenarios in case diplomatic channels fail.