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U.S. military officials are refining contingency plans to neutralize Iranian defenses in the Strait of Hormuz if the current ceasefire collapses.
The updated strategy reflects a shift toward “dynamic targeting” of asymmetric assets, with a particular focus on fast attack boats and minelaying vessels that Iran has used to disrupt global shipping.
This intensified focus on the southern Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman marks a departure from earlier operations that targeted infrastructure deeper داخل Iranian territory.
The primary objective of the revised approach is to disable fleets of small vessels and coastal defense systems that continue to hinder commercial transit, already placing significant strain on the global economy.
Beyond conventional military targets, planners are also weighing potential strikes on dual-use infrastructure and energy facilities as a means of forcing a diplomatic resolution. The strategy further includes options to target specific Iranian military leaders and other “obstructionists” within the regime whom U.S. officials say are undermining negotiations, including IRGC Commander-in-Chief Ahmad Vahidi.
This planning is driven by intelligence assessments indicating that Iran has used the ceasefire period to reposition surviving missile launchers and drone stockpiles to new strategic locations.
Despite the pause in hostilities that began on April 7, the waterway remains closed to international tankers, with shipping brokers wary of ongoing retaliatory risks. While President Donald Trump has expressed a preference for diplomacy, he has made clear that the ceasefire extension is not “indefinite.”
With 19 ships currently deployed in the Middle East and a naval blockade in place since April 13, a U.S. Defense Department official said the military “continues to provide the President with options, and all options remain on the table.”
