US-Iran Tensions: Amid the ongoing standoff with Iran, US President Donald Trump is once again planning an attack on Tehran, media reports claimed. Currently, both countries have agreed to an indefinite ceasefire.
Axios reported on Wednesday, citing sources, that US Central Command (CENTCOM) has prepared a new plan for military action against Iran. According to the report, CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper will brief Trump on the new plans on Thursday.
Trump May Take These Steps To Pressurise Iran On Nuclear Deal
Trump may seriously consider resuming a large-scale military campaign against Iran, either to break the impasse over the nuclear programme deal in peace talks or to deliver a final blow before ending the war.
What Is CENTCOM's Plan?
According to reports, US Central Command is considering a plan to launch a wave of small and powerful attacks on Iran, including large infrastructure targets. The US hopes this will compel the Islamic regime in Tehran to accept the US deal. The US military hopes that when bombs rain down, the Islamic Republic may adopt a more flexible stance on the nuclear issue when negotiating peace terms. Trump has previously threatened to destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure.
However, international law experts have pointed out that such attacks could be considered war crimes. The 1949 Geneva Convention on Humanitarian Conduct During War prohibits attacking civilian areas deemed essential.
Second Plan
Another plan to be shared with Trump by CENTCOM involves seizing a portion of the Strait of Hormuz to reopen it to commercial shipping. However, such an operation could also involve ground forces, which is a tough deal for the Trump administration.
According to reports, Trump views the US blockade of Iranian ports as his main bargaining chip against Tehran, but sources said he may consider military action if Iran still refuses to budge.
Third Option
A third option discussed at the briefing could be a special forces operation to secure Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile. Trump has described Iran's nuclear program as an imminent threat and said it was a key reason for launching a war against Tehran's Islamic regime'
Reasons for Taking These Steps
According to an Axios report, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kaine is also expected to join Trump at the CENTCOM meeting. Cooper gave Trump a similar briefing on February 28, two days before US and Israeli forces attacked Iran.
Reports claim that this briefing played a key role in Trump's decision to go to war. However, Trump himself told Axios that he considers a naval blockade on Iran to be more effective than bombing.
(With Jagran.com Inputs)