US military preparing options for Trump after he says 'anything's possible' with Iran, officials say
Official and military sources told Fox News that movements are being made in the Middle East to give President Donald Trump options if he decides to resume attacks against Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly is pushing for fresh strikes on the Iranian regime.
Iran signals potential shift in US standoff as Mojtaba Khamenei calls for new approach
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday described Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's directive to end the current state of “neither war nor peace” between Washington and Tehran as an important step in shaping Iran's future, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Khamenei had reiterated Iran’s conditions for ending the war with the U.S. during a meeting with his security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, a day earlier.
The meeting focused on reinforcing national unity and moving beyond the current state of uncertainty and tension. According to the Mehr News Agency, Khamenei described the situation as a “crossroads.”
As mediation continues, Iran has said the U.S. must lift its blockade of Iranian ports before peace talks can begin. Washington wants Iran to make concessions on its nuclear program.
IRGC spokesperson calls on CENTCOM to 'prove' Strait of Hormuz is cleared of mines
Brigadier Gen. Hossein Mohebi, the spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) called on U.S. Central Command Thursday to "prove" that the Strait of Hormuz has been cleared out of mines.
In a post on X yesterday, CENTCOM said, "Over recent days and weeks, Iranian-controlled media have reported Iranian claims that commercial vessels are hitting sea mines while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. These claims are FALSE."
“All internationally recognized primary transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz have been cleared of sea mines by U.S. forces and remain so,” CENTCOM said, adding that thousands of commercial vessels have “safely used the transit lanes and continue today.”
In response, Mohebi told CENTCOM on Thursday to "prove your Hormuz mine-clearing claim with independent evidence, not statements!"
"The reality of the Strait of Hormuz is shaped in the sky, on land, and at sea; not in cyberspace and America's media war rooms," he added in a post on X.
Fox News Digital's Emma Bussey contributed to this post.
Trump denies directing Vance to launch Iran peace talks amid reports of letter to Tehran
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he did not direct Vice President JD Vance to initiate peace negotiations with Iran, amid reports that Vance had sent a letter to Tehran to kick-start new talks.
When pressed on the matter ahead of traveling to a rally in Ohio and Trump replied, "No."
“No, they need help with medical supplies and various things," he told reporters.
“He asked me what I thought. I said, if you want to do that, that's okay. Basically, it's getting supplies in to help people that are not well,” Trump clarified.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Vance had sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an effort to revive peace negotiations.
Military options being prepared for Trump after he says 'anything's possible' with Iran: officials
Official and military sources told Fox News on Wednesday that movements are being made in the Middle East to give President Donald Trump options if he decides to resume strikes against Iran.
The development comes after The Wall Street Journal reported this week that "the U.S. has told several Gulf Arab countries to be prepared for a short, intense military campaign after the U.S. midterm elections," citing people familiar with the conversations.
When asked by a reporter about the possibility of the U.S. striking Iran after November's midterms, Trump said late Tuesday, "I can't tell you that... but anything's possible."
The Wall Street Journal report said an additional aircraft carrier strike group and Marine expeditionary unit are being repositioned, while the U.S. is bringing a Patriot missile defense system from Texas into Israel to help the Middle Eastern ally bolster its defenses and U.S. forces in the region are restocking their munitions, among other moves.
The sources told Fox News that the movements being reported are to make sure the U.S. military is ready if asked to do something by Trump, but there is no indication the president has made a decision yet.
Trump has telegraphed possible likely targets in Iran, such as its Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site and Kharg Island, although Trump also has called off major strikes six times since July.
Yesterday's Fox News Digital live blog offers additional coverage of the conflict with Iran.
Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this post.
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