The key facts

  • Admiral Brad Cooper briefed Trump on military options regarding Iran at a White House meeting on Thursday
  • The meeting was attended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine
  • The US is building up air defenses and munitions in the Middle East and withdrawing troops from vulnerable bases

White House meeting

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), briefed President Donald Trump on military options regarding Iran at a White House meeting on Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing American officials and people familiar with the course of the meeting; as reported by Anadolu. The discussion is linked to the fact that the Trump administration is considering the possibility of resuming large-scale combat operations against Iran following the American-Israeli bombing campaign earlier this year.

Who attended and what preceded it

In addition to Trump and Cooper, the meeting was attended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, and other cabinet members. It took place the day after military officials met with Vice President JD Vance at the White House on Wednesday.

Preparations in the region

According to The Wall Street Journal, in recent weeks the US has been building up air defense systems, munitions, and other supplies in the region, while simultaneously moving some troops away from bases considered vulnerable to possible Iranian retaliation. A Pentagon spokesman and a CENTCOM representative declined to comment on the situation to the newspaper. The report does not mention any decisions made or the timing of a possible operation — what is being discussed is the consideration of options.