U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper is pushing for renewed military strikes on Iran and told senior IDF commanders that attacks on key Iranian infrastructure could alter Tehran’s position, Channel 13 reported Thursday.

Cooper visited Israel over the past week and participated in a senior IDF operational forum alongside IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, senior generals and other commanders. During the meeting, he argued that fighting against Iran should resume and that strikes should target national infrastructure, including facilities tied to the country’s gas, oil and electricity sectors.

“Striking infrastructure in Iran will change the rules of the game, hurt the Iranians badly, and in the current situation they will not change their positions,” Cooper told the Israeli officers.

Cooper has also raised the position with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, and the same view was conveyed to President Donald Trump.

He further told senior IDF officials that there is a significant possibility the U.S. will have no choice but to resume fighting and would need Israel for joint strikes.

The report comes despite recent American pressure to close down active fronts. At the same time, CENTCOM announced the establishment of a multinational attack-drone force involving the United States and several regional partners.

The latest developments come as tensions with Tehran remain high. An Iranian official told Reuters that there are no discussions underway to extend the ceasefire with the United States, arguing that from Iran’s perspective it never truly began because Washington violated it 48 hours after it was reached and formally withdrew from it several days later.

A Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman responded that the Islamabad memorandum of understanding remains a signed agreement even though it has not yet been implemented. He said the 60-day period is nearing expiration but that five days still remain, adding that Pakistan hopes the deadline can ultimately be extended if the sides return to negotiations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)