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Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, speaks at a press conference at CENTCOM headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, on March 5 (local time). / EPA-Yonhap

U.S. President Donald Trump is considering resuming large-scale military operations against Iran, and Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has briefed him on possible attack plans, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Oct. 29 (local time).

According to U.S. government officials and people familiar with the meeting, Cooper took the unusual step of personally briefing Trump at the White House that day on options for strikes against Iran.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and other Cabinet members attended the meeting. They also discussed other matters, including whether to maintain the U.S. naval blockade of Iran.

The meeting has been interpreted as a sign that the United States is becoming increasingly likely to carry out a substantial military operation.

Cooper and other U.S. military officials reportedly met with Vice President JD Vance at the White House the previous day.

Iran has warned, both through private diplomatic channels and publicly, that it would launch widespread retaliatory attacks against facilities in countries across the region if attacked by the United States.

Iran has also reportedly resumed ballistic missile production using components stockpiled in underground facilities to prepare for such retaliation.

The U.S. Department of Defense has recently transported additional air defense systems, ammunition and military supplies to the Middle East in preparation for a new airstrike campaign.

The WSJ also reported that some troops stationed at bases considered vulnerable had been relocated elsewhere.

                                                                                                            Kim Hyun-min