An exclusive report by an international media outlet has claimed that the United States (US) military requested “creative and unconventional” ideas from troops to pressure and punish Iran.
According to the report, a senior officer at the US military command carrying out President Donald Trump’s war with Iran sent an internal email asking for ideas.
“We are looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran,” an officer in US Central Command’s (CENTCOM) intelligence branch wrote in a message sent to a broad group of military analysts.
The report also quoted a second source as saying that a senior US military officer sent the message soliciting new ideas for how to deal with Iran.
CENTCOM initiated the email session to see if anyone had a better idea, with the second source stating that CENTCOM is looking at everything and acknowledging a need to reevaluate strategy.
“US Central Command has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways,” Captain Timothy Hawkins, a spokesperson for CENTCOM, said in a statement.
The email preceded Trump’s threat to launch strikes against Iran, which were called off after regional officials, including Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, intervened by calling the president to urge de-escalation.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force reported that an MQ-9 drone was intercepted and struck by an air defence system over the skies of the Strait of Hormuz.
At sea, satellite images and maritime tracking data showed that at least six oil tankers flying the Saudi flag altered course from the Bab al-Mandab Strait toward the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa to avoid attacks by Yemeni forces.
Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated in a televised press conference that Iran has been discussing creating a route through the Strait of Hormuz with Oman, featuring entry and exit lanes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas (FM) Araghchi and Iraqi FM Fuad Hussein have also held phone conversations to discuss regional developments. The diplomats reviewed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, enhance regional coordination and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, reaffirming the importance of continued consultation between Iran and Iraq.
Baghaei stated that Iran is not holding talks with the US and is conducting discussions with Oman over a temporary route through the Strait of Hormuz. He added that reaching an agreement with Oman is not sufficient to reopen the strait, as the situation will remain unchanged while US aggression continues.
