As international tensions rise, a general confirmed that the Trump administration has military options on the table to strike Iran if nuclear negotiations stall.
CENTCOM commander General Michael “Erik” Kurilla said during a House hearing that he presented detailed strike plans targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities to Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
During testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, General Kurilla made it clear that America’s military has prepared multiple options for potential strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.
When pressed by Committee Chair Mike Rogers, Kurilla confirmed that CENTCOM has developed comprehensive military plans that could be executed on presidential orders.
“If negotiations fail, we have plans,” Kurilla stated plainly to lawmakers, underlining the Trump administration’s firm stance against allowing Iran to develop nuclear weapons.
The current situation presents a dramatic shift in regional dynamics.
The fall of Assad’s regime in Syria has disrupted Iran’s “Shia crescent” – their land bridge extending from Iran through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon and Hezbollah.
This development has significantly weakened Iran’s regional power structure, giving America an advantage in negotiations.
President Trump recently met with Syria’s new president, Ahmed Sharaa, to discuss normalizing relations as part of a broader strategy to counter Iranian influence.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah has been severely weakened by Israeli strikes, including a sophisticated operation that used explosive beepers and walkie-talkies to target their leadership.
General Kurilla warned that an independent Israeli strike on Iran would significantly increase risks to American forces in the region, revealing that President Trump has reportedly cautioned Israeli leadership against striking Iran unilaterally while nuclear talks continue.
This shows Trump’s strategic approach to handling the situation – giving diplomacy a chance while keeping military options ready.
The CENTCOM commander also addressed the ongoing threat from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
According to Kurilla, Iran supplies approximately 80% of Houthi resources through smuggling vessels hidden among regional shipping traffic.
Iranian experts are now helping Houthis manufacture weapons inside Yemen, creating a persistent threat to both Israel and international shipping.
A notable diplomatic success came in May when the U.S. reached an agreement with the Houthis for a ceasefire on American ships in the Red Sea.
Since then, U.S. naval forces have transited the area without incident, demonstrating the effectiveness of Trump’s approach, which combines a rigid military posture with strategic diplomacy.
The ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran represent a critical test of American resolve and leadership.
While the Trump administration is giving diplomacy a chance, Kurilla’s testimony makes it abundantly clear that military options are fully prepared and could be implemented swiftly if Iran refuses to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
As tensions with Iran continue, the Trump administration has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to defending Israel and preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, by diplomacy if possible, by force if necessary.
