Rabia Iclal Turan
26 March 2026•Update: 26 March 2026
WASHINGTON
The Pentagon is weighing options for a potential “final blow” against Iran, including ground operations and a massive bombing campaign, according to a report Thursday.
Among the options under consideration are seizing or blockading key Iranian positions, including Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub, as well as the strategic islands of Abu Musa and Larak near the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported, citing US officials and sources familiar with internal deliberations.
Other scenarios include targeting Iranian oil shipments or conducting large-scale strikes on nuclear facilities, it added.
The report said President Donald Trump has not yet made a decision but is prepared to escalate if diplomatic efforts fail to produce results.
The report came as the US reportedly sent Iran a 15-point plan to end the war, delivered via Pakistan, outlining steps on Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran rejected the US proposal, saying any ceasefire would take place only on Tehran’s terms and timeline, and outlined five conditions for ending the war, including a halt to “aggression and assassinations.”
The US and Israel have been carrying out airstrikes on Iran since Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure, while disrupting global markets and aviation.
