US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper briefed President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, 29 October 2026, on military options for Iran, as the United States weighs resuming major combat operations, according to a report citing US officials and people familiar with the meeting.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and other cabinet members were also at the meeting, the report said. It also covered the continuing US blockade.
The meeting followed a Wednesday White House meeting in which the military officers met Vice President JD Vance.
As context, the report noted that the United States has increased air defences, munitions and other supplies across the Middle East in recent weeks and moved some troops away from bases considered vulnerable to Iranian retaliation, following US and Israeli strikes earlier this year.
The report also said US officials have told Arab Gulf states to prepare for a possible short, intense campaign after the US midterm elections. This is reported, not a confirmed decision, and no final decision on strikes has been reported.
A Pentagon spokesperson and a CENTCOM spokesperson declined to comment.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
