Trump to receive briefing on potential new strikes against Iran

President Donald Trump is scheduled to receive a briefing on new military options against Iran, including potential strikes and a possible takeover of part of the Strait of Hormuz.

Donald Trump

Donald TrumpWhite House Photo by Daniel Torok

US President Donald Trump will be briefed Thursday by CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper on fresh plans for possible military action against Iran, Axios reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter.

The briefing underscores that the president is actively weighing the resumption of major combat operations, either to break the current stalemate in negotiations or to deliver a decisive blow before concluding the conflict.

CENTCOM has developed a proposal for a “short and powerful” wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, with the goal of forcing Tehran back to the negotiating table with greater flexibility on the nuclear issue, three sources with knowledge of the plans told Axios.

A separate option expected to be presented involves seizing control of part of the Strait of Hormuz to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping. Such an operation could require the deployment of ground forces, one source indicated.

Planners have also revisited the possibility of a special forces mission aimed at securing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

US military officials are also preparing for the possibility that Iran may retaliate against American forces in the region in response to the ongoing blockade.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine is also expected to participate in Thursday’s briefing.

The White House declined to comment on the planned meeting.

The report comes after Trump rejected Iran’s most recent proposal to end the war, telling Axios earlier on Wednesday that he intends to maintain a naval blockade on Iran until Tehran agrees to terms addressing American concerns over its nuclear program.

Trump indicated that, at present, he views the blockade as a more effective tool than direct military action, telling the news website, “The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing.”

Speaking to reporters later in the day, Trump said that efforts to bring an end to the war with Iran are continuing through telephone conversations rather than in-person meetings.

Speaking from the Oval Office, the president expressed frustration over the lengthy travel required to send American delegations to Islamabad for talks that have so far failed to resolve the conflict.

 

“We have talks, we’re having talks with them now, and we’re not flying anymore with 18-hour flights every time we want to see a piece of paper,” the president told reporters.

“We’re doing it telephonically, and it’s very nice. I make a call, or I have my people make a call, and you know the answer in 15 – I always like face to face, you know, I consider it better,” he continued. “But when you have to fly 18 hours every time you want to have a meeting, and you know what the meeting is all about, and you know they’re going to give you a piece of paper that you don’t like before you even leave, it’s ridiculous, and they’ve come a long way.”


United Arab Emirates withdraws from OPEC

United Arab Emirates announces its withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+ effective May 1, citing alignment with its long-term economic and energy strategy. The decision represents a significant challenge to the influential oil cartel led by Saudi Arabia.

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The United Arab Emirates will officially leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) beginning May 1, according to a statement on Tuesday published in the UAE’s official state news agency WAM.

The announcement states that the move supports the country’s broader strategic goals for its economy and energy sector.

“This decision aligns with the United Arab Emirates’ long-term strategic and economic vision and the development of its energy sector, including accelerating investment in domestic energy production,” the statement said.

OPEC functions as a cartel comprising leading oil-producing nations that work together to set production levels aimed at influencing worldwide oil supply and prices. The UAE is also departing from the wider OPEC+ alliance, which includes Russia and other non-OPEC producers.

Analysts view the departure as a substantial setback for OPEC and particularly for its dominant member, Saudi Arabia. Together, OPEC nations produce about 36 percent of the world’s oil and hold nearly 80 percent of global proven oil reserves.

UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouie addressed the decision directly. “The UAE’s decision to exit from OPEC reflects a policy-driven evolution aligned with long-term market fundamentals,” he said in a statement on social media. “We remain committed to energy security, providing reliable, responsible, and lower-carbon supply while supporting stable global markets.”

Today, the UAE ranks among the top ten oil producers globally, contributing approximately 3 to 4 percent of total world oil production.


According to one source, the Lebanese government is hesitant to embrace the initiative, citing concerns over expanding Turkish influence in the country.

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan speaks after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Turkey, March 9, 2026.
Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan speaks after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Turkey, March 9, 2026. 
(photo credit: Mustafa Kamaci/Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS)
Turkey has approached the United States and Lebanon with a proposal to help broker an arrangement involving Hezbollah, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to The Jerusalem Post.

The initiative includes an offer by Ankara to act as a mediator and take an active role in addressing the Hezbollah issue. The proposal reflects Turkey’s broader effort to expand its diplomatic reach and position itself as a regional power broker. The US administration has not yet provided a clear response, with officials neither accepting nor rejecting the offer.

In recent years, Turkey has sought greater involvement across the Middle East, particularly in areas bordering Israel. In the Gaza Strip, Ankara aimed to participate in a planned CMCC peacekeeping force expected to be deployed following “Trump’s 20-point plan,” but Israel vetoed the inclusion of Turkish troops.

In Syria, Turkey has emerged as a significant actor since the rise of President Ahmed al-Sharaa. At the same time, Israel has worked to prevent the establishment of Turkish military bases in the country.

Lebanon ‘hesitant’ to accept Turkish influence

According to one source, the reaction in Beirut has been “not very enthusiastic.” The Lebanese government is hesitant to embrace the initiative, citing concerns over expanding Turkish influence in the country – an outcome that could further complicate Lebanon’s fragile political balance.

Israel Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Lebanon Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad, US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office, April 23, 2026.
Israel Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Lebanon Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad, US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office, April 23, 2026. (credit: Reuters/Kylie Cooper)

Before the current Iran-US ceasefire, Turkey said that any agreement with Iran should include Lebanon. More recently, Turkey delivered 360 tons of aid to displaced civilians through the port of Beirut.

More than one million people have been displaced from southern Lebanon and Beirut since the start of the war.

“Turkey will always stand by Lebanon, and its friendly people,” Turkish Ambassador Lütem said at the event. “Turkey has consistently supported Lebanon through its official institutions and non-governmental organizations.”