President Donald Trump is receiving military briefings on possible strikes against Iran while diplomatic efforts to resolve nuclear tensions continue to face obstacles, according to multiple reports.
Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads U.S. Central Command, is set to present Trump with potential American military responses targeting Iran, ABC News reported Thursday. Sources familiar with the matter told the network that General Dan Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is also involved in these briefing preparations. Officials indicate that a coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran remains under active consideration.
Despite the military planning, diplomatic efforts are still underway. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi, who has been facilitating negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, is expected to meet with Vice President JD Vance and other top American officials in Washington on Friday. These discussions aim to prevent potential U.S. military action against Iran.
In a Washington Post interview, Vance addressed the situation directly, stating there is “absolutely no chance” that any Trump-ordered strikes on Iran would result in an extended conflict. While Vance acknowledged he doesn’t know what decision Trump will ultimately make, he outlined potential approaches, including military action “to ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons,” or finding a solution “through diplomatic means.”
The New York Times reported Thursday that any military response currently being discussed would be narrowly targeted, concentrating on Iran’s nuclear facilities and missile capabilities. American officials quoted by the newspaper expressed doubt about Iran’s commitment to finalizing an agreement, while suggesting that precision strikes could pressure Iranian leadership to make compromises during ongoing Geneva negotiations.
Thursday marked the conclusion of those Geneva talks. Al Busaidi characterized the discussions as productive and announced that technical negotiations will resume next week in Vienna. The American negotiating team included special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law. Rafael Grossi, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency, also took part in the discussions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks as making “good progress,” noting that negotiators found common ground on certain matters while acknowledging that significant differences remain unresolved.
