US Central Command seeks "unconventional ways" to pressure Iran
A senior officer at US Central Command has asked intelligence personnel for "creative" ideas to counter Iran, signaling a re-evaluation of Washington's limited strategic options. A US source told CNN: "Ultimately, the president will want to reach an agreement."
CNN reported on Monday that the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reached out last week to its intelligence personnel with a request to propose "creative and unconventional" ideas for exerting pressure on Iran.
An email sent on Wednesday by a senior officer in the Central Command's intelligence branch was distributed to a wide group of military analysts, stating: "We are looking for new, creative, and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran." Another source confirmed to CNN that a second senior officer had also requested new ideas for dealing with Iran.
Military officials described the unusual request as a sign that the options available to US President Donald Trump are limited, and that Central Command is re-examining its strategy to explore all possibilities.
CENTCOM spokesperson, Captain Timothy Hawkins, told CNN that "US Central Command has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways." According to him, the commander, Admiral Cooper, is accustomed to reaching out to staff members "regardless of their rank" to achieve the highest level of operational performance. The request was sent before Donald Trump threatened to launch additional strikes against Iran, but he backed down over the weekend after regional leaders, led by the Saudi Crown Prince, appealed for de-escalation.
In recent weeks, the United States has conducted airstrikes against Iran to damage its ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table, but there are no signs of an approaching agreement at this stage.
According to two sources familiar with the planning, the US military is preparing for the possibility of renewed strikes against the "Fordow" facility and other sites estimated to contain nuclear material. However, those same sources assessed that even the use of the most powerful conventional weapons in the US arsenal is unlikely to achieve a significant result, as the facilities are buried deep underground. Their destruction might require the deployment of ground forces—a move Donald Trump is not interested in due to the risks involved. To date, 18 American soldiers have been killed in the fighting.
It was also reported that Donald Trump examined the possibility of carrying out symbolic strikes to achieve a victory that would allow for the end of the war, even if the primary goal of dismantling the Iranian nuclear program is not achieved. However, such a move is not expected to resolve the central issue of the war—Iran's claims regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
"Ultimately, the president will want to reach an agreement, so he will continue to look for ways to be tough while simultaneously exiting the war. Sometimes you need creative thinking—especially when you run out of conventional options," said one source familiar with the planning discussions.
