jordan pulse -

​During a rare White House meeting on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed on military options regarding Iran presented by Commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, amid American military reinforcements in the Middle East and concerns over broader regional escalation.
​According to The Wall Street Journal, the meeting was attended by War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, and White House envoy Steve Witkoff, alongside other senior officials.
​The meeting also addressed the ongoing U.S. blockade against Iran, following a session held by military leaders with Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday.
​The newspaper quoted U.S. officials as stating that Washington notified Gulf states to prepare for the possibility of a brief and intensive military campaign following the U.S. congressional midterm elections scheduled for November 3.
​In this context, Axios reported U.S. officials as saying that Cooper's briefing to Trump focused on the naval blockade—as the President sought to inspect its effectiveness firsthand—alongside the economic pressure campaign executed by the military in coordination with the Treasury Department.
​The briefing also touched upon operational details for securing the exit of oil tankers from the Strait of Hormuz.
​Last week, Trump gestured toward the possibility of launching new attacks on Iran, stating he might execute "another small operation" within Operation "Epic Fury" if Tehran fails to reach an understanding with Washington.
​The high-level briefing raised questions regarding the potential resumption of combat operations, particularly given that the CENTCOM commander rarely briefs the President directly.
​Israeli Concerns Over a Limited Strike
​In Israel, Haaretz reported that the military fears the United States might execute a rapid round of airstrikes against Iran next month before concluding them with an agreement that falls short of Israeli objectives.
​The Israeli military establishment views a brief round of strikes as insufficient to topple the Iranian regime or halt its nuclear program, warning of a divergence between the goals of the Israeli political leadership and Trump's trajectory.
​The newspaper cited that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for Iranian regime change as the sole path to permanently eliminating the threat, whereas Trump and Vance favor reaching a peaceful agreement rather than renewing military confrontation.
​Tehran Adheres to Its Nuclear Stance
​On the diplomatic front, The Washington Post quoted U.S. officials as saying that Iranian leaders viewed the direct message conveyed to them by Vance as a mark of respect, though there are currently no indications of a retreat in Tehran's nuclear stance.
​The paper added that Washington seeks to deliver a message to Iranian hardliners that diplomatic efforts led by Vance are serious, at a moment when the conflict approaches a turning point.
​Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran received a message from Vance but has not yet responded, noting that Iran expects the United States to fulfill its terms, and that "any position contrary to this framework is unacceptable."
​Conversely, Trump stated that Vance's communication with Iran was aimed at facilitating Tehran's acquisition of medical supplies, following media reports detailing contacts between the Vice President and Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, to revive negotiations.
​For his part, Vance stated in an interview with Fox News that Trump will not permit the war on Iran to turn into a prolonged, endless conflict.
​Military Reinforcements and Iranian Warnings
​On the military level, the U.S. War Department has in recent weeks reinforced its air defenses and ammunition supplies in the Middle East while relocating some forces away from vulnerable bases, according to The Wall Street Journal.
​Furthermore, Washington is working on deploying an additional Patriot missile battery to Israel amid concerns over interceptor missile shortages and the need to replenish stockpiles depleted during previous engagements.
​Source: Rum News Agency