The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East recommended ending the bombing campaign around the Strait of Hormuz after concluding that it had reached the limit of its effectiveness, Axios reported.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, advised the Pentagon, Joint Chiefs of Staff and White House that two weeks of strikes had significantly reduced Iran’s ability to attack ships in the area. He also said most of the designated targets had already been exhausted.

Cooper’s recommendation, together with advice from other military and civilian officials, helped shape President Trump’s decision on Friday to pause U.S. strikes against Iranian targets along Iran’s southern coast and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump made the decision after senior advisers and military officials presented him with a new strike plan. Although he had been leaning toward resuming major combat operations earlier in the week, sources said his position began shifting Thursday evening and was finalized Friday.

According to the report, Cooper said the remaining military option would be to resume major combat operations and strike the roughly 20% of designated targets left untouched during Operation Epic Fury. Without such a decision, he argued, there was little value in continuing the more limited bombing campaign.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine also privately warned President Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth that shortages of air-defense interceptors could make it more difficult to protect U.S. forces and allies throughout the region.

Iran and Oman are meanwhile continuing negotiations over a possible arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic without further attacks. It remains unclear whether any agreement they reach would be acceptable to President Trump.

For now, the situation appears to be one of “quiet for quiet,” with both sides pausing attacks. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Sunday that President Trump is keeping all options available while allowing negotiations with Iran room to continue.

The United States and United Kingdom are also discussing an international conference later this week aimed at establishing a coalition to protect shipping and clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, though no final date has been set.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)