US Army seeks «unconventional ideas» to pressure Iran amid narrowing options - Sarmad
Sources told CNN that U.S. Central Command issued an unusual request to military experts, asking them to explore new, creative, and unconventional ways to pressure Iran and “punish” it.
The sources said the request came via an email sent last Wednesday by a senior officer, which read: “We need ideas.”
This approach, resembling a collective brainstorming session via email, is an unusual practice within the military establishment, according to military officials. It also reflects the limited options available to President Donald Trump to force Iran into an agreement on his terms, as well as the political difficulty of accepting such options. Officials at Central Command hope this open call will yield alternative ideas, acknowledging the need to reassess the current strategy.
Captain Timothy Hawkins, a spokesperson for Central Command, clarified in an official statement that the command has a long history of thinking and acting in innovative ways. He noted that Admiral Brad Cooper communicates with team members regardless of their rank to achieve the highest possible levels of operational performance.
The email came before Trump threatened new strikes on Iran, only to back down over the weekend following intervention by regional officials, most notably Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who spoke with the U.S. president and urged him to de-escalate tensions.
In this context, two sources familiar with military planning reported that U.S. forces are already preparing to carry out strikes targeting the “Pekak Mountain” site and other Iranian locations believed to house materials or equipment related to the nuclear program. However, they emphasized that the U.S. military’s most powerful conventional weapons would not achieve decisive results, as these facilities are located deep underground, potentially requiring the deployment of ground forces—an option carrying significant risks that Trump remains hesitant to pursue, especially amid questions about his administration’s transparency regarding U.S. military casualties, which have reached 18 so far.
Another source indicated that Trump is considering strikes akin to a “fireworks display,” possibly targeting sites similar to those struck a year ago, aiming for a symbolic victory that would allow him to end the conflict without dismantling Iran’s nuclear program. However, such strikes may not resolve the core issue concerning Iran’s demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
In this regard, one source familiar with recent discussions stated that the president wants to reach an agreement and will therefore continue seeking ways to combine firmness with an exit from the war. He added that sometimes creative minds are needed, especially when traditional options begin to run out.
