President Donald Trump convened with senior military officials in an intensely strategic meeting at the Situation Room on Tuesday, aiming to orchestrate a substantial military campaign against Iran, according to three informed sources who spoke to Axios. The anticipated operation is set to overshadow the current military actions near the Strait of Hormuz, which has been under relentless airstrikes for four consecutive nights as the conflict extends to its 137th day. Key attendees included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine. Discussions reportedly revolved around launching fresh assaults on critical Iranian locations and bolstering strikes within the Strait. U.S. officials clarified that the ongoing barrage seeks to incapacitate Iran’s capacity to menace shipping lanes in the crucial Strait of Hormuz. The escalation intensified Tuesday afternoon with a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, aiming to strangle the regime’s sea-based trade.
In defiance of the mounting pressure, Tehran has reciprocated with its own barrage, bombarding American military installations in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain with missiles and kamikaze drones. The U.S. aerial onslaught primarily targeted Iran’s pivotal air defense systems, radar equipment, anti-ship missile sites, and drone stations. At least seven Iranian military personnel were reported killed in an overnight strike on a base in Bampur, according to reports from Iran’s army on Wednesday. In a conversation with Fox News on Tuesday, Trump remarked that U.S. forces planned to strike with significant force, stating the aggressive campaign will persist until he decides otherwise. He hinted that while energy targets were off the table for now, they would eventually come under assault.
Trump Warns of Escalating Strikes
“The following night and into the next week, the intensity of operations against them will increase significantly, with strategic infrastructure such as power plants becoming targets,” Trump indicated. He further asserted that unless Iran agrees to surrender its nuclear ambitions, American efforts will escalate to targeting crucial infrastructure like bridges. Trump vowed that strikes would continue until his objectives are met. Late Tuesday, CENTCOM reported that additional rounds of strikes were executed, impacting numerous military installations near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran’s coastline.
“U.S. fighter jets, drones, and naval vessels coordinated precision attacks on Iranian missile, drone launch sites, naval fortifications, and coastal defense systems during a seven-hour operation designed to thwart Iran’s potential to threaten commercial maritime routes,” the update detailed. In conjunction with resumed naval blockades on ships transitioning to or departing from Iranian waters, this intense U.S. bombing initiative follows Trump’s notification to Congress that warfare efforts continued due to Iran violating international agreements by attacking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Warns Iran to Make a Deal
While ground force involvement remains a possibility to secure Trump’s strategic aims—especially concerning the eradication of Iran’s enriched uranium—the U.S. military has been methodical in minimizing civilian casualties. However, Trump cautioned Iran against complacency, suggesting all options remain available. “You’d better negotiate, or face complete devastation,” he declared. Drawing a metaphor, Trump compared Iran to a formidable opponent in a boxing ring: “You may think they’re down, but they have the grit to come back with a punch.” He conveyed reluctance to pursue immediate diplomatic talks with Iran, accusing them of deceit in follow-up comments on Fox News.
