Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, who oversees troops within the Center East as head of U.S. Central Command, briefed President Donald Trump on Thursday on potential army choices in Iran, based on an individual near the president.
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers and the president’s prime army adviser, additionally was current, based on a second individual conversant in the dialogue.
President Donald Trump delivers the primary State of the Union deal with of his second time period to a joint session of Congress within the Home Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, Feb. 24, 2026.
Kenny Holston, Pool through EPA through Shutterstock
The briefing by the highest army commander within the area comes on the identical day as U.S. and Iranian officers held oblique talks in Geneva on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program.
Neither facet introduced a deal had been reached. Iran’s overseas minister mentioned progress was made and that “technical talks” will resume in Vienna, Austria, subsequent week.
An F/A-18E Tremendous Hornet, hooked up to Strike Fighter Squadron 41, prepares to launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class plane provider USS Abraham Lincoln within the Arabian Sea, Feb. 15, 2026.
Petty Officer third Class Nathaly/US Navy
A number of Republicans and some Trump officers in latest days have privately advocated for Israel to take the lead in placing Iran as a substitute of the U.S. initiating hostilities, two folks conversant in discussions inform ABC Information.
It was not clear as of Thursday that such a plan has been embraced by Trump, who is claimed to be rising more and more pissed off with Iran’s refusal to conform to his calls for to halt uranium enrichment and cap its ballistic missile program.
Oman’s Minister of Overseas Affairs Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, proper, holds a gathering with White Home particular envoy Steve Witkoff, centre, and Jared Kushner, as a part of the continued Iranian-American negotiations, in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday Feb. 26, 2026. (Overseas Ministry of Oman through AP)
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The president is thought for fielding diversified opinions earlier than making a call. Politico first reported that some senior advisers and Republicans to Trump have been advocating for Israel to take the lead.
Sources say a joint U.S.-Israeli operation remains to be attainable, with the U.S. having moved an eye-popping variety of ships and fighter jets to the area — all inside placing distance of Iran.
The US Navy plane provider USS Gerald R. Ford departs Souda Bay on the island of Crete, February 26, 2026.
Costas Metaxakis/AFP through Getty Photos
“The media might proceed to invest on the President’s pondering all they need, however solely President Trump is aware of what he might or might not do,” mentioned White Home Deputy press secretary Anna Kelly.
Political analysts mentioned that options of Israel throwing the primary “punch” is probably going meant to function a form of political cowl to Republicans in Congress going through a tricky election yr. Trump campaigned on the promise that he would finish wars, not begin them.
If Israel struck Iran, protection officers predict Iran would virtually actually retaliate. Trump may then argue that U.S. intervention within the battle was in keeping with decades-long coverage of defending Israel, analysts say.
However that technique may backfire if the operation is seen throughout the Center East as an “Israeli-backed coup,” mentioned ABC Information contributor Ramesh Ponnuru, a conservative pundit and editor of Nationwide Assessment.
No matter the way it begins, “if it turns into an concerned marketing campaign and we take casualties, you then get some political dangers,” Ponnuru mentioned.
“I believe it is necessary for President Trump to articulate the technique and mission in Iran,” he later added. “However earlier than that, he has to have a transparent technique and mission, and I do not know that he has settled on that but.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to reporters in a departure lounge earlier than returning to Washington following conferences with Caribbean Neighborhood leaders in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, February 25, 2026.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe on Tuesday briefed a small group of prime lawmakers on Iran, though the small print of the categorized briefing have been unclear.
Democrats emerged from the assembly saying they appreciated that the administration was consulting with lawmakers this time, which they mentioned had not been the case prior to now forward of main overseas coverage motion.
“That is a unprecedented, critical time, [a] critical second within the Center East” and a “critical second for America,” mentioned Sen. Mark Warner, the highest Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, instructed reporters on Tuesday.
Sources have instructed ABC Information that amongst Trump’s choices is a restricted strike on ballistic missile launchers and nuclear websites as a form of warning to power Tehran to conform to Trump’s calls for.
Additionally into consideration is a significant operation hitting numerous targets over a sustained time frame, sources say.
An F-35C Lightning II, hooked up to Marine Fighter Assault Squadron 314, prepares to make an arrested touchdown on the flight deck of Nimitz-class plane provider USS Abraham Lincoln within the Arabian Sea, Feb. 12, 2026.
Petty Officer third Class Sonny Escalante/US Navy
A gap salvo on targets in Iran, led by Israel, wouldn’t solely be a type of coercion in diplomatic talks. The strikes additionally may serve to cripple extra of Iran’s air defenses ought to Trump resolve to comply with up with a way more sustained army marketing campaign geared toward toppling the regime, sources mentioned.
Analysts say such an operation may final for weeks and be terribly dangerous with none assure that Iran would emerge with a authorities extra favorable to U.S. pursuits.
Of specific concern is that Iran attempt to assault the some 35,000 to 40,000 U.S. troops stationed within the area.
Rubio on Wednesday instructed reporters on Wednesday whereas touring in St. Kitts that Iran is attempting to rebuild its nuclear program after it was bombed by the U.S. final June.
“You possibly can see them all the time attempting to rebuild parts of it. They don’t seem to be enriching proper now, however they’re attempting to get to the purpose the place they finally can,” he mentioned.
Rubio additionally mentioned Iran additionally was on a “pathway” to attempt to get hold of ballistic missiles able to reaching the U.S.
