Trump weighs Iran escalation as top U.S. general makes rare White House visit

  President Donald Trump received a briefing on potential military action against Iran on Thursday from the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, whose rare in-person visit to the White House comes as Washington weighs renewed strikes alongside efforts to revive negotiations with Tehran, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads U.S. Central Command, joined Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine for the meeting. Other cabinet officials also attended, with discussions extending beyond Iran, according to the newspaper, which cited U.S. officials and people familiar with the gathering.

The consultations come as the administration considers its options following the U.S. and Israeli bombing campaign in the spring. Trump said at a rally last week that Washington could launch another operation resembling that offensive, which he called Operation Epic Fury, if Iran does not agree to a deal.

Military preparations and diplomatic outreach are proceeding in parallel. The Journal previously reported that the administration had urged Arab Gulf states to prepare for a brief but intense campaign after the November midterm elections. Vice President JD Vance has meanwhile engaged with a senior Iranian hard-liner in an effort to revive peace negotiations.

Thursday’s meeting followed discussions between Vance and military leaders at the White House a day earlier. Cooper rarely briefs Trump in person, according to the Journal, making the meeting a potentially significant signal as the administration weighs its next move.

The discussions do not establish that Trump has decided to resume major combat operations.