US Central Command commander presents military options against Iran to Trump
The US Central Command commander briefed Trump on military options regarding Iran in a rare White House meeting amid Qatari mediation and anticipation over the post-midterm period.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, presented possible military options regarding Iran to President Donald Trump on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, during a rare face‑to‑face meeting at the White House, according to US officials and people familiar with the meeting.
Hegseth and Keen attend the meeting
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Keen attended the meeting, along with other administration officials, and the discussion also covered the US maritime blockade of Iranian ports.
It was not clear after the meeting whether Trump had decided to resume wide‑scale military operations; US Central Command declined to comment.
No strikes before Nov. 3 elections
Trump and officials in his administration had said he did not intend to launch new strikes against Iran before the midterm elections scheduled for Nov. 3, while Washington had told several Gulf states to prepare for a short, intense military campaign after the elections, according to diplomats.
Barak expects de‑escalation steps within two weeks
By contrast, US special envoy to Iraq and Syria Tom Barak said he expects the coming weeks to see "dramatic steps forward" within two weeks toward de‑escalation, adding that the parties are "very close" to a stage where they could agree to a "pause," but that it "depends on trust and who will start first."
Barak said Qatar has presented Iran with a seven‑day proposal, which Tehran is currently studying.
Tehran sticks to its conditions
Meanwhile, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said "the carrot‑and‑stick approach has no effect on Iran," while Tehran conditions any agreement on lifting the blockade of its ports, lifting sanctions on its oil exports, and ending fighting on regional fronts, whereas Washington wants the Iranian nuclear program to be included in any negotiations from the outset.
Iran warned that any new US attack could be met with strikes on American sites and others in Gulf countries.
