Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, allegedly called for attacks on Iran to resume and shared this view with Israeli military officials.
Israel-based Channel 13 reported, citing unidentified political sources, that Cooper attended a meeting of the Israeli military's senior operational forum during his visit to Israel last week. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and senior military commanders also attended the meeting, Channel 13 said.
Alleged attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure
Channel 13 reported that Cooper advocated resuming the conflict with Iran and targeting national infrastructure linked to the oil, natural gas and electricity sectors.
Cooper allegedly said that attacks on these facilities would "change the rules of the game and put serious pressure on the Iranians." He also allegedly assessed that Tehran would not change its position under the current circumstances.
Channel 13 alleged that Israeli military officials were told that resuming the conflict could become the only option and that the United States might need to carry out joint attacks with Israel against Iran.
Views allegedly conveyed to Washington
Channel 13 also alleged that Cooper presented the same assessment to US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine. The channel further claimed that this position was conveyed to US President Donald Trump.
Channel 13 said these assessments emerged as US media outlets were reporting that the possibility of a renewed war with Iran had diminished and as Washington had intensified its efforts in recent days to end the conflict fronts in the region.
Alleged offensive drone force in the Middle East
Channel 13 also alleged that US Central Command had announced the establishment of a force made up of offensive unmanned aerial vehicles in cooperation with several Middle Eastern countries.
The US administration did not immediately comment on these allegations.
Earlier developments involving Iran
Channel 13 reported that the United States carried out attacks on Iran between July 8 and 24. Tehran, for its part, announced that it had targeted US military facilities and equipment in Arab countries, particularly Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.
Following these developments, talks between Iran and Oman resumed to determine corridors for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington and Tehran had signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 that envisaged beginning negotiations to reach a final agreement. The talks became difficult because of disagreements over how to ensure security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. Tehran said that more than 3,000 people had been killed in the attacks. Iran responded with attacks that it claimed killed US and Israeli citizens.
