Top U.S. commander briefs Trump on Iran naval blockade as mediators seek to avert renewed war
Summary
U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper briefed President Trump on Thursday on the state of the Iran war, focusing on the ongoing naval blockade, according to two U.S. officials. Cooper also updated Trump on a military operation guiding oil tankers out of the Strait of Hormuz and on an economic pressure campaign the military is running with the Treasury Department. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, Vice President JD Vance, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles also attended, and the White House and CENTCOM declined to comment. The meeting came as Trump pursues dual tracks: seeking a deal to restart peace talks while preparing for a possible resumption of major combat operations after the midterms. A group of regional mediators led by Qatar is trying to persuade the U.S. and Iran to head off a renewed war in favor of negotiations, and a regional source said, "The mediation is at a very sensitive stage." Qatari mediators recently delivered a letter from Vance to Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, proposing restarted talks that would have to address Iran's nuclear program. Trump and Vance also met Wednesday to discuss a possible goodwill gesture toward Iran, such as sending humanitarian goods.
Timeline
Axios
Source ↗Axios reports, citing two U.S. officials, that Adm. Brad Cooper briefed President Trump on Thursday on the Iran war and the naval blockade, as Trump pursues dual tracks of seeking a deal and preparing for possible renewed combat after the midterms.
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