The US military has emailed military experts asking for new, creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran, according to a CNN report, as the Trump administration seeks to end a prolonged conflict with Tehran.
The email, sent by an officer in US Central Command's (CENTCOM) intelligence branch, said the command was looking for new, creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran, CNN reported. A CENTCOM spokesperson said the move was not unusual and that the command has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways. But the email suggests the Pentagon did not plan for the conflict to drag out this long.
The conflict began on 28 February. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent energy prices soaring and directly affected Trump voters.
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia's state media said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke by phone with Trump and stressed the need to prioritise dialogue to de-escalate tensions and to make every effort to achieve a truce that paves the way for diplomatic solutions.
Trump said negotiations with Iran would begin on Monday after he called off new strikes on Saturday. He said Iran does not want to be attacked and that the US was now talking to it in the form of a negotiation.
Iran has denied that any talks are under way with the US. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran's negotiations are with Oman, not the United States, and are aimed at securing passage through the Strait of Hormuz. He described the talks with Oman as constructive. Baghaei added that as long as a US naval blockade on Iranian ports continues, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain unchanged.