President Donald Trump also received options to expand military operations in Iran during Tuesday’s Situation Room meeting, which focused on ways to step up efforts to loosen Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz, two people familiar with the matter said.
President Trump has publicly said he intends to hit Iran harder over the coming week, including threats to civilian infrastructure and possible energy targets. Behind the scenes, he is discussing various scenarios for future military action with senior officials, hoping to identify ways to pressure Iran into complying with U.S. demands after previous efforts failed to bring it to its knees.
For the past five days, the United States has carried out daily attacks on Iranian positions along the Strait of Hormuz, including on Wednesday on the tiny Greater Tunbu Island in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been serving as a base for Iranian forces.
Officials said the attack was aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to interdict commercial shipping. But destroying targets such as missile launchers and radars could also lay the groundwork for a large-scale U.S. military operation that President Trump is considering, the officials said.
Two officials said President Trump is currently considering an operation to seize Kharg Island, a key Iranian export hub, and to blow up an underground facility at Pickaxe Mountain believed to be linked to Iran’s nuclear program.
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