President Donald Trump met with senior advisers in the White House Situation Room on Tuesday to review options for a broader offensive against Iran, according to officials familiar with the discussions. The talks focused on intensifying U.S. military actions beyond ongoing strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, amid efforts to curb Tehran's capacity to threaten international shipping lanes.
U.S. forces conducted a fourth consecutive day of strikes targeting Iranian air defenses, radar installations, anti-ship missile sites and drone facilities along the country's southern coast and in the strait area. Officials described the objective as weakening Iran's ability to disrupt maritime traffic through the critical chokepoint. Over the past week, American military authorities coordinated the safe passage of approximately 300 vessels through the waterway.
In response, Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain. A U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports went into effect Tuesday afternoon.
Ahead of the Situation Room session, Trump indicated in an interview that strikes would widen over the coming three days. He cautioned that further targets, including power plants and bridges, could come under attack next week if Iran does not pursue negotiations. U.S. negotiators held direct talks with Iranian counterparts on Tuesday, officials said.
U.S. forces conducted a fourth consecutive day of strikes targeting Iranian air defenses, radar installations, anti-ship missile sites and drone facilities along the country's southern coast and in the strait area. Officials described the objective as weakening Iran's ability to disrupt maritime traffic through the critical chokepoint. Over the past week, American military authorities coordinated the safe passage of approximately 300 vessels through the waterway.
In response, Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain. A U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports went into effect Tuesday afternoon.
Ahead of the Situation Room session, Trump indicated in an interview that strikes would widen over the coming three days. He cautioned that further targets, including power plants and bridges, could come under attack next week if Iran does not pursue negotiations. U.S. negotiators held direct talks with Iranian counterparts on Tuesday, officials said.