WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has been briefed on military options that could significantly expand U.S. operations against Iran, as his administration weighs additional action following days of strikes aimed at weakening Tehran's military capabilities and securing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials.
Senior administration officials have presented Trump with a range of military scenarios during recent Situation Room meetings, including expanded airstrikes against additional targets inside Iran and other operations intended to increase pressure on Tehran after existing efforts failed to achieve U.S. objectives, officials familiar with the discussions said.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of military planning, cautioned that no final decision has been announced and that the president continues to review military and diplomatic options. They said planning discussions do not necessarily indicate that additional operations will be authorized.
The deliberations come after several consecutive days of U.S. strikes targeting Iranian military assets associated with operations around the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. officials said those attacks were intended not only to reduce Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping but also to degrade capabilities that could complicate any broader military campaign if ordered later.
Among the options discussed are intensified air operations against military infrastructure and other strategic objectives, according to officials familiar with the briefings. Separate reports, citing U.S. officials, said discussions have also examined more ambitious military contingencies, although the administration has not publicly endorsed any specific course of action.
Trump has publicly maintained that he prefers a negotiated resolution but has also warned that the United States is prepared to intensify military pressure if Iran does not meet U.S. demands. The White House has not released details of the classified briefings or confirmed which options remain under active consideration.
Iran has condemned the U.S. military campaign and warned that further attacks would draw additional retaliation. Iranian officials have accused Washington of escalating the conflict, while the United States has argued its operations are intended to protect maritime security and respond to Iranian actions in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict has entered its fifth month following the collapse of earlier diplomatic arrangements, with military exchanges continuing despite repeated calls from international actors for de-escalation. As of Thursday, U.S. officials said the president had not announced a final decision on whether to expand military operations beyond the current campaign.
