A senior official at the United States Central Command has asked military analysts to propose new ways to increase pressure on Iran, according to a CNN report.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, CNN reported that an official from CENTCOM's intelligence sector sent an email last week seeking "new, creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran."
According to CNN, the request to gather ideas from staff is an unusual practice, as it was made through an internal email, and reflects the limited options that President Donald Trump's administration has available to force Tehran to accept a deal on Washington's terms.
CENTCOM spokesman Captain Timothy Hawkins stated that the command has a history of seeking ideas from its personnel, regardless of rank, in order to improve operational performance.
"Admiral Cooper, in particular, calls on our excellent team members, regardless of rank, to achieve the highest possible levels of operational performance," Hawkins said.
The CNN report also cites assessments by the CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency that the current bombing campaign against Iran is unlikely to change Tehran's position in the negotiations.
In recent weeks, the United States and Iran have traded military strikes. Washington has struck targets inside Iranian territory, while Tehran has retaliated by attacking what it has described as American military bases and equipment in several Arab countries, including Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.
The escalation of tensions came after a memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran in June and the start of negotiations for a final agreement.
The talks were then blocked due to disagreements over security guarantees and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important corridors for energy transport and international trade.
