On April 11, 2026, US President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One upon arriving at Miami International Airport in Florida, USA.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
President Donald Trump is scheduled to receive a briefing on Thursday from military leaders, including Gen. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, about a possible attack on Iran, Axios and Reuters reported overnight.
The reported meeting took place on the eve of a key deadline in the war. There is a statutory 60-day deadline for President Trump to withdraw U.S. troops unless Congress authorizes military action, but Congress has yet to do so.
It also comes as a harsh ceasefire has so far failed to lead to a peace agreement between Washington and Tehran. Instead, both countries are focusing on inflicting economic pain on the other through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil trade.
But their efforts stalled after Iran effectively halted shipping traffic through the strait and the United States retaliated by blockading Iranian ports.
Centcom is preparing plans for “short, powerful” waves of strikes aimed at breaking the deadlock and forcing Iran to be more flexible on its demands, Axios reported on Wednesday.
Other options being discussed include a special forces operation to secure Iran’s supply of highly enriched uranium and action to strengthen U.S. control of the strait, Axios said.
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on the reported briefing. Centcom declined to comment.
The strait blockade, which began after Iran began threatening ships after the US and Israel went to war on February 28, has caused a global oil supply shock and sent prices soaring.
Iran has refused further negotiations unless the U.S. blockade is lifted, and President Trump has said there will be no negotiations until Iran agrees to a deal on its nuclear ambitions.
President Trump boasted from the White House on Wednesday that the blockade was “genius” and that Iran’s economy was “in real trouble.”
“Now they have to cry, uncle, that’s all they have to do. Just say, ‘I give up,'” he said.
He previously claimed that Iran’s oil infrastructure would “explode” within days as the blockade prevents oil exports. But experts told CNBC that Iran has weeks or even months before its oil reserves become untenable.
That may be longer than Trump, whose economic approval ratings have fallen to new lows during the war, can hold out.
This is developing news. Please check back for the latest information.
