Trump Holds Meeting to Discuss Plans for Large-Scale Attack on Iran

United States President Donald Trump held a meeting in the White House Situation Room to discuss plans for a large-scale military strike against Iran, which would be more extensive than the current operations around the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by US media outlet Axios citing three sources familiar with the talks. The meeting on Tuesday local time focused on potential strikes against strategic targets inside Iranian territory. The discussions took place as the Trump administration considers increasing military pressure to force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept US demands concerning its nuclear programme. Trump was joined by senior members of his national security team, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and White House envoy Steve Witkoff. Sources cited by Axios said the talks centred on a large-scale attack plan that could destroy strategic targets within Iran, beyond the ongoing operations around the strait. The White House declined to comment to Axios. The meeting occurred as the US military conducted strikes for the fourth consecutive day in the area around the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran’s southern coast. US officials told Axios that the strikes primarily targeted air defence systems, radar sites, anti-ship missile positions, and drone launch locations, aiming to significantly degrade Iran’s ability to attack vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iran continued to launch missiles and drones towards US military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. A US naval blockade of Iranian ports also came into effect on Tuesday afternoon local time.