US President Donald Trump is reportedly planning a massive new offensive against Iran, following a hastily convened situation room meeting at the White House with his top national security team, three sources told Axios. The plan involves more powerful strikes on strategic targets in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, escalating beyond current operations.
Escalation After Ceasefire Collapse
Trump declared the fragile ceasefire with Iran over last week, calling Iranian leaders "scum." Since then, missile strikes from both sides have intensified. A naval blockade was imposed on Iran today, and airstrikes have escalated in retaliation for Tehran’s attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. US strikes hit an Iranian army barracks, killing at least seven troops and wounding more than 260 people, according to Iranian officials.
Situation Room Meeting Details
The meeting on Tuesday included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen Dan Caine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and White House envoy Steve Witkoff. They discussed a broader offensive than the current strikes, targeting infrastructure such as power plants and bridges.
Trump told Fox News the US would hit Iran "hard" over the next three days, with wider strikes to follow. "Next week, it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges. We're gonna knock out all their power plants. We're gonna knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate," Trump said.
Impact on Global Energy Supplies
The back-and-forth strikes have shredded the interim deal that paused the conflict. The US first imposed a blockade of Iranian ports in April, lifted it last month after signing the interim deal, but talks over Iran’s nuclear program have stalled. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard threatened to halt all energy exports from the Middle East over the blockade, stating, "The export of oil and gas from the region will be either for everyone or for no one."
