Trump to get CENTCOM brief on potential Iran strikes: Reports

President Donald Trump will receive a briefing on Thursday from U.S. Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper and other military leaders about possible attacks on Iran. axios And Reuters reported overnight.

The reported briefing came on the eve of a key deadline in the war: 60 day legal timer Demanding that Trump withdraw US armed forces unless Congress authorizes military action (which he has not done).

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in Senate testimony Thursday that he believes in a countdown clock. War Powers Resolution of 1973“pauses or stops the ceasefire.”

The United States and Iran are currently in a ceasefire that was first declared on April 7.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., asked Hegseth about Friday’s deadline. he quickly responded: “I don’t believe the statute would support that.”

The uneasy ceasefire has so far not led to a peace agreement between Washington and Tehran. Instead, they focused on inflicting economic pain and bringing the other to heel through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil trade.

But their efforts (Iran’s virtual halt to ship traffic in the strait and a retaliatory US naval blockade of Iranian ports) ended in a stalemate.

CENTCOM drew up a plan for a “short and powerful” wave of attacks to break the logjam and force Iran to be more flexible on its demands. Axis declared Wednesday.

According to Axios, other options being discussed include a special forces operation to secure Iran’s supply of highly enriched uranium or actions that would give the United States greater control over the strait.

The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on the reported briefing. CENTCOM declined to comment.

The blockage in the strait, which started when Iran started threatening ships after the USA and Israel started a war on February 28, caused a global oil supply shock and caused prices to rise.

Iran has ruled out resuming talks unless the US blockade is lifted, but Trump has said he will not do so until Tehran reaches an agreement on its nuclear ambitions.

At the White House on Wednesday, Trump boasted that the blockade was “genius” and that Iran’s economy was “really in trouble.”

“They have to cry now, uncle, that’s all they have to do. Just say ‘We gave up’,” he said.

He had previously claimed that Iran’s oil infrastructure was ready to “explode” in a matter of days due to the blockade preventing it from exporting crude oil. But experts told CNBC it could be weeks or even months before Iran’s oil support becomes unbearable.

That may be longer than Trump, whose economic approval ratings have fallen to new lows amid the war, is willing to endure.

This is developing news. Please check back for updates.