US President Donald Trump is considering a 14-day Iran strike plan that could sharply widen America’s military campaign and target Tehran’s missile network.
Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, has prepared an option for between 10 and 14 days of intensive air strikes against Iran, according to reports citing people familiar with US military planning.
The campaign would seek to weaken Iran’s ability to manufacture, store and launch ballistic missiles. Trump could approve the wider operation, choose a smaller response or return to negotiations.
The important point is that this remains a military proposal rather than a presidential order. Reports that commanders have prepared an operation do not mean the strikes will automatically take place.
US commander proposes sustained Iran strikes
Cooper leads US Central Command, commonly called Centcom. It oversees American military operations across the Middle East and surrounding areas.
His proposal would go beyond the shorter waves of attacks already carried out against Iranian targets. The reported objective is to damage missile launchers, production centres, storage facilities, command posts and other sites supporting Tehran’s ability to strike American forces and regional allies.
A ballistic missile is launched into the upper atmosphere before descending towards its target at high speed. Such missiles are difficult and expensive to intercept, particularly when several are fired within a short period.
The proposal follows an Iranian missile attack targeting US forces on Tuesday, 28 July. Centcom said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, known as the IRGC, launched several ballistic missiles but that they were intercepted.
The IRGC is an influential branch of Iran’s armed forces. It controls parts of the country’s missile and drone operations and has links with armed groups operating elsewhere in the region.
US strikes dozens of Iranian military sites
American forces responded on Wednesday, 29 July, with what Centcom described as a “heavy wave of strikes” against Iran.
The US military said it hit dozens of IRGC targets, including command centres, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance sites, air-defence positions and maritime capabilities.
Centcom said the operation was intended to reduce threats to American troops, commercial shipping and neighbouring Gulf countries. It added that more than 50,000 US service personnel were deployed across the Middle East.
Those strikes are confirmed. The proposed 10-to-14-day campaign is a separate and much larger option that Trump must still consider.
The distinction matters because a prolonged operation would require more aircraft, weapons and logistical support. It could also increase the chance of Iranian retaliation against military bases, shipping routes or countries supporting American forces.
Trump’s advisers divided over risks
Senior US officials are reportedly debating whether a sustained offensive would weaken Iran enough to justify the military and political risks.
Cooper is said to believe that a concentrated campaign could seriously reduce Tehran’s missile capability. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is also reported to support a stronger offensive approach.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has taken a more cautious position, according to the Wall Street Journal. One concern is the amount of air-defence ammunition needed to protect US forces and allies if Iran responds with another large missile or drone attack.
This does not mean the United States has run out of defensive weapons. It means military planners must decide how much equipment can be used in the Middle East while keeping enough available for other possible threats.
Air power may destroy launchers and production sites, but it cannot guarantee that every missile will be found. Iran has underground facilities, mobile launchers and the ability to repair some damaged infrastructure.
A bombing campaign could therefore weaken Tehran without ending its capacity to retaliate. It may also produce military gains without delivering a political settlement.
Related news
Wider conflict could hit travel and energy prices
The consequences of a larger campaign would extend beyond Iran and the United States.
Countries hosting American forces could face an increased security risk. Airlines may avoid affected airspace, while shipping companies could change routes or pay higher insurance costs.
The Strait of Hormuz is particularly important. The narrow waterway connects Gulf oil and gas producers with global markets. Around 20 per cent of the world’s petroleum liquids consumption passed through the route during the first half of 2025, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Even limited disruption can affect oil prices, transport costs and inflation. A prolonged conflict could also put pressure on businesses and households in the UK through higher fuel and delivery costs.
New Daily Prime previously reported that Saudi Arabia had joined US military action against Iran-linked groups in Iraq after the latest missile incident. Washington has also warned Russia and China against supplying weapons to Iran.
Trump faces choice between force and diplomacy
Trump must now decide whether a longer military campaign would place enough pressure on Iran to change its position or draw the United States deeper into a conflict without a clear end.
A smaller response could limit the immediate risk of escalation but may leave much of Iran’s missile network intact. A larger campaign could cause more damage but increase the possibility of casualties, retaliation and regional disruption.
Returning to negotiations remains another option. However, the latest exchange of missiles and air strikes has made diplomacy more difficult.
Trump has previously presented himself as a president who would avoid prolonged foreign wars. Approving a two-week bombing campaign would therefore carry domestic political risks as well as military consequences.
For British travellers, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel to Iran. Those travelling elsewhere in the region should check the advice for each country, follow instructions from local authorities and contact their airline before departure because restrictions can change quickly.
For now, no 14-day campaign has been formally announced. Until Trump issues an order or the Pentagon confirms the operation, the plan should be reported as an option under consideration—not an attack that is certain to happen.
