President Donald Trump is considering expanding military operations in Iran, according to two people familiar with the matter. This comes after a Situation Room meeting on Tuesday where ways to intensify efforts to loosen Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz were discussed.

Background

Over the past five days, the US has carried out daily strikes on Iranian positions along the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes aim to degrade Iran’s ability to prevent commercial vessels from transiting the waterway. Targets have included missile launchers and radars, which could lay the groundwork for larger US military operations.

Trump has publicly stated his intention to strike Iran harder over the coming week, including threats on civilian infrastructure and potentially energy targets. Behind the scenes, he has been discussing various scenarios for future military action with senior officials, hoping to identify ways to pressure Iran into submitting to US demands.

Possible Targets

According to the two officials, Trump is now weighing an operation to take Kharg Island, the critical Iranian export hub, and to bomb underground complexes at Pickaxe Mountain, believed to be connected to Iran’s nuclear program. He affirmed his interest in both targets during interviews this week, though he suggested a ground operation to take Kharg may fall to another country.

Vice President JD Vance, the administration’s lead negotiator with Iran, said in a three-hour interview with Joe Rogan on Tuesday that the war will not be won through military force alone. ‘You can bomb them, you can take away their radar, you can take away some of their drones and some of their missiles, but it’s just too easy to fire at ships in the straits,’ he said. ‘So you’ve got to actually be willing to talk and to try to figure out the problem.’

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.