CENTCOM chief briefs Trump on Iran military options as U.S. warns Gulf states to prepare for possible campaign

Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, briefed President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday on military options for Iran as Washington weighs renewed major combat operations, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine joined the meeting, along with other administration officials. The Journal described Cooper’s in-person briefing as unusual because the CENTCOM commander rarely briefs Trump directly at the White House.

The meeting followed discussions between military officials and Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday.

Separately, U.S. officials have told several Gulf Arab governments through diplomatic and military channels to prepare for a possible “short, intense military campaign” against Iran after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, according to people briefed on the communications.

The U.S. has been replenishing munitions and air defenses in the region, moving some personnel away from bases considered vulnerable to Iranian retaliation and preparing additional air and naval forces for a possible escalation.

Trump has not made a final decision on renewed strikes. The Journal reported that he was leaning toward a larger post-election operation that could target Iranian infrastructure and nuclear sites, while diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement with Tehran continue.