CENTCOM chief reportedly urges renewed US strikes on Iran infrastructure

JERUSALEM, Aug 14: The head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Adm. Brad Cooper, has reportedly urged renewed attacks on Iran, including strikes against oil, gas and electricity facilities, to increase pressure on Tehran, Israeli media reported Thursday.

Israel’s Channel 13, citing unnamed political sources, said Cooper proposed during a visit to Israel last week, where he attended a meeting of the Israeli military’s senior operational forum alongside Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other commanders. According to the report, Cooper argued that attacks on Iran’s national infrastructure could significantly change the situation and said joint US-Israeli strikes could become necessary if fighting resumes.

The reported proposal was also presented to US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and subsequently conveyed to President Donald Trump, according to the broadcaster. The United States has not immediately commented on the claims.

The report comes as Washington has intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent a renewed conflict with Iran. Previous US-Iran negotiations stalled over disagreements including security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, CENTCOM announced Thursday the creation of its first multinational attack-drone task force in cooperation with several Middle Eastern countries.

The US and Iran previously agreed to a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire in April and signed a deal on June 17 to begin negotiations toward a final agreement. However, tensions later escalated, with the two sides exchanging military strikes from July 8 to 24. The US struck targets inside Iran, while Tehran targeted what it described as US military facilities and equipment in several Arab countries, including Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.