Top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, Adm. Brad Cooper, reportedly advised President Donald Trump to halt the bombing campaign around the Strait of Hormuz due to its limited effectiveness, according to sources familiar with his position. This recommendation played a role in Trump’s decision on Friday to pause U.S. strikes against Iran. The move reflects a recognition by both military and civilian advisors that the effectiveness of military action, particularly air power, has reached its limits. For the first time in two weeks, Trump ordered the military to stop conducting strikes against Iranian targets along the southern coast of Iran and in the Strait of Hormuz area. The decision followed a meeting with top advisers and military officials who presented him with a revised strike plan for the day. Initially, Trump had shown inclination towards resuming major combat operations, but his stance shifted on Thursday evening, leading to the decision to halt the bombing campaign. Admiral Cooper had previously conveyed his recommendations regarding the course of action to the Pentagon, the joint chiefs, and the White House. He emphasized that the two-week-long strikes in the Strait of Hormuz area had significantly reduced Iran's capability to attack ships. Cooper noted that the designated bombing targets had largely been exhausted. He proposed that the next potential step could involve resuming major combat operations to address the remaining 20% of targets identified by the U.S. military during Operation Epic Fury. Without a decision to return to major combat operations, Cooper argued that continuing the previous two-week bombing campaign would serve no purpose. A spokesperson for CENTCOM, Captain Tim Hawkins, declined to comment on these developments. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly raised concerns with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump about a shortage of air defense interceptors, which could hinder the protection of U.S. forces and allies in the region. These warnings were initially reported by the New York Times. A spokesperson for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff declined to comment on confidential military advice provided to the president. Meanwhile, Iran and Oman continue to negotiate a new agreement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, allowing for the free transit of ships without attacks. However, it remains uncertain whether such a deal would meet Trump's approval. In the interim, the situation appears relatively calm, with both sides refraining from attacking each other. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz mentioned on Sunday that while Trump keeps all options open, he is also giving talks with Iran room to develop. Waltz confirmed that discussions between the U.S. and Iran are ongoing at multiple levels. The U.S. and U.K. remain in discussions about organizing an international conference later this week to establish a coalition aimed at protecting and clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz. Although no definitive date for the meeting has yet been set, preparations are underway. In parallel, the U.S. military continues to carry out strikes against Iran, with reports indicating a 13th consecutive night of bombings. President Trump warned of a "massive attack" against Iran, raising questions about the definition of victory and how it might be achieved. Republican Representative Michael McCaul stated that the U.S. military was winning the war against Iran, suggesting that the metrics for victory might be evolving. Current objectives include preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, reducing its ballistic missile capabilities, and eliminating its regional proxy threat, but these goals appear to be overshadowed by the urgent need to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's energy products pass. Zev Faintuch, head of research and intelligence at security firm Global Guardian, indicated that if Iran does not gain exclusive control of the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. does not unfreeze the majority of Iran's frozen assets, the situation could be deemed a win. Freeing up around $24 billion worth of Iranian funds was part of the June 17 memorandum of understanding (MOU) that paused the war, reopened the Strait of Hormuz, and initiated 60 days of talks regarding Tehran's nuclear program. Faintuch noted that the latest strikes did not significantly curtail Iran's nuclear program compared to the 12-day war in June but did degrade its conventional military capabilities, which could be viewed as a victory. He anticipates that the Trump administration will seek an exit strategy before September, around 60 days prior to the midterms, possibly involving a desperate diplomatic effort within the next few weeks. The U.S. president attributed responsibility for attacks by Tehran-backed Houthis on shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait to Iran, threatening further escalation. Trump expressed consideration of a "massive attack, bigger than ever before" without providing specifics. Two other U.S. officials indicated that no new orders had been issued to the military. Retired U.S. Vice Admiral Robert Murrett suggested that the statement implied a dramatically escalated air campaign, though there was no indication of large-scale ground force deployments or significant ground activities. Following Trump's comments, U.S. Central Command announced additional strikes against Iranian military targets aimed at reducing threats to commercial shipping posed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Separate strikes occurred near Piranshahr in northwestern Iran and an IRGC naval base at Zibakenar on the Caspian Sea coast, with reports of smoke rising afterward. Independent outlet Iran International covered these incidents. Aurélien Colson, academic co-director of the ESSEC Business School Institute for Geopolitics & Business, suggested that the U.S. could further weaken Iran by bombing facilities, destroying air defenses, tightening sanctions, and increasing the military and economic costs for Tehran. However, he noted that this approach does not equate to achieving a victory. There is no purely military solution to the Iranian nuclear question, which remains the primary concern despite the U.S. administration focusing on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. While the U.S. can impose penalties on Iran, it cannot achieve a stable nuclear settlement through bombing alone. If Washington defines victory as regime collapse or complete surrender, it risks setting itself up for failure. A U.S. strike at Iran’s Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq was reported by Iran’s Mehr News Agency. Iran analyst Hamidreza Azizi, from the think tank SWP Berlin, suggested that the strike could indicate preparation for deploying special operations or ground forces or enabling the advancement of armed insurgent groups.
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