President Trump is weighing a broader U.S. military campaign against Iran after days of briefings with senior national security advisers, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. While no final decision has been made, officials say the president has been presented with a range of military options as diplomatic efforts remain stalled.

According to the report, proposals discussed include expanding U.S. airstrikes, deploying American forces to seize Iranian islands near the Strait of Hormuz, and striking a heavily fortified underground site believed to be connected to Iran’s nuclear program. One option reportedly discussed during a Tuesday meeting involved Iran’s Kharg Island and other strategic locations along the vital shipping route.

The report says another potential target is a deeply buried underground tunnel complex near Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility, sometimes referred to as “Pickaxe Mountain.” The site is believed to be carved roughly 100 meters into granite, making it one of Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear-related facilities and difficult to destroy even with bunker-busting munitions.

The discussions reportedly involved Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine. Despite reviewing military options, Trump has continued to publicly and privately say he prefers a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

According to the report, however, Iran has not agreed to Trump’s demands to surrender its nuclear stockpile, prompting the administration to examine additional measures that could increase pressure on Tehran or halt attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Officials told the Journal that Trump remains hesitant about committing U.S. ground forces, noting that he has previously stepped back from some of his most aggressive public threats. Any decision to expand the conflict would mark a significant escalation and could have far-reaching consequences across the Middle East.

In an interview released Wednesday, Vice President Vance told podcaster Joe Rogan that the military campaign is intended to bring Iran back to the negotiating table.

“We’re not just going to bomb for the sake of bombing,” Vance said. “We’re going to use military force as one of many tools to solve the problem.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)