US weighs renewed strikes on Iran as military deployments expand across Middle East
Tehran confirms receiving message from Vance but has yet to respond. Iranian navy reports tanker fire after alleged mine strike near Strait of Hormuz.
The United States is weighing the possibility of renewed military action against Iran as it expands its military deployments across the Middle East, while diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran remain stalled amid rising tensions over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Adm. Brad Cooper briefed President Donald Trump on military options for potential strikes against Iran during a White House meeting on Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials and people familiar with the discussions.
The meeting was also attended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and other Cabinet members. It followed a separate meeting between senior military officials and Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday.
The discussions come as the Trump administration considers a possible new military campaign against Iran following the US and Israeli bombing campaign earlier this year.
US reinforces military presence in region
The United States has reportedly transferred 10 military cargo aircraft to Israel, with the planes landing at Ovda and Nevatim air bases in the southern Negev region, according to Israeli public broadcaster KAN.
Additional US military aircraft were reportedly dispatched to bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The aircraft sent to Israel were said to have departed from Fort Bliss in Texas, a major US military air defense center.
The cargo carried by the aircraft was not disclosed, and Washington had not officially confirmed the reported deployments.
An Israeli official told KAN that the two countries were coordinating closely and preparing for any decision Trump might make, although no final decision on military action had been taken.
The reported reinforcements also include the transfer of a Patriot missile defense system from Texas to the Gulf region. US forces have reportedly been replenishing weapons stockpiles, while some personnel have been instructed to leave bases considered vulnerable to potential Iranian retaliation.
An additional aircraft carrier and a Marine Corps unit are expected to arrive in November, according to KAN, joining approximately 20 US warships already operating in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said he and several other senators had been briefed on possible plans for an attack on Iran. Murphy described the reported plans as "insane" and warned that a new military campaign could trigger a major escalation.
Diplomatic contacts remain unresolved
Amid the military preparations, Iran has confirmed that Vice President JD Vance sent a message to the secretary of its Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, but said Tehran had not yet responded.
A senior Iranian security source told the semi-official Fars News Agency that reports speculating about the contents of the communication were inaccurate.
The source added that exchanges between US and Iranian officials were not unusual and had taken place on several previous occasions.
The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Vance had sent a letter to Rezaei at Trump's direction in an effort to revive peace negotiations and explore a diplomatic framework that could prevent renewed military action.
Trump, however, denied instructing Vance to initiate negotiations, saying the communication concerned Iran's need for medical supplies and other assistance.
The reported exchange comes amid continuing disagreements over the implementation of a June memorandum of understanding and security arrangements governing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Tanker catches fire near Strait of Hormuz
Tensions over the strategic waterway intensified Thursday after Iran's Navy reported that an oil tanker caught fire and became immobilized after striking naval mines in a restricted area east of the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement carried by Tasnim News Agency, the Iranian Navy said the vessel had entered a prohibited and unsafe area before noon and sustained damage after hitting mines.
The Navy did not identify the tanker, disclose its flag or provide information about its crew.
It warned that the Strait of Hormuz remained closed to vessels attempting to cross restricted areas without prior coordination, arguing that unauthorized navigation posed serious risks to ships and their crews.
The statement also accused Trump of making misleading claims about passage through the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy transit routes, carrying a substantial share of global oil shipments. Maritime restrictions and security concerns have disrupted shipping since the conflict that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.
Despite a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran on June 18, disagreements over freedom of navigation and maritime security have continued.
With US military forces reinforcing positions across the region, Washington considering further military options and diplomatic contacts yet to produce a response from Tehran, uncertainty remains over whether the confrontation will move toward renewed negotiations or another round of military operations.
Source:AA
