Axios, citing two U.S. officials, reports CENTCOM commander Admiral Cooper
briefed President Trump on the 29th on the Iran conflict, focusing on an ongoing
maritime blockade. Officials said Trump sought a direct assessment of whether
the blockade is effective. Cooper also outlined U.S. military escort operations
guiding oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz to global energy markets, and
described coordinated military and Treasury economic-pressure measures. The
meeting included the defense secretary, Treasury Secretary Bessent, the chairman
of the Joint Chiefs and a White House envoy. Separately, a Qatar-led mediation
push is urging the U.S. and Iran to avoid renewed hostilities after the U.S.
midterms and to resume negotiations; a regional source called talks at a "very
sensitive stage." Qatar recently delivered a letter from a vice president to
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Rezaei.
