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

United States President Donald Trump held a meeting in the Situation Room of the White House to discuss plans for a large-scale military strike against Iran, which would be broader in scope than the current operations around the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported by the American news outlet Axios, citing three sources familiar with the discussions.

According to the Axios report, the meeting on Tuesday (14 July) local time focused on potential strikes against strategic targets inside Iranian territory. The discussion took place as the Trump administration considers escalating military pressure to force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept US demands regarding its nuclear programme.

As reported by Al Arabiya on Wednesday (15 July 2026), Trump was accompanied at the meeting by senior members of his national security team, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and White House envoy Steve Witkoff.

The sources cited by Axios said the discussions centred on plans for a large-scale attack capable of destroying strategic targets inside Iranian territory, in addition to the ongoing operations around the strait.

When asked for comment, the White House declined to respond to Axios.

The meeting on Tuesday (14 July) local time took place as the US military carried out 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 and radar systems, anti-ship missile positions, and drone launch sites, with the aim of significantly reducing Iran’s capacity to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iran has continued to launch missiles and drones towards US military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

The US naval blockade of Iran’s ports also came into effect on Tuesday (14 July) afternoon local time.