A senior US administration official told CNN that Washington is intentionally conducting alternating rounds of strikes and pauses in the Middle East to prevent regional escalation and give diplomacy a chance. The official said the Pentagon holds an extensive target bank as a bargaining chip, with concrete preparations for immediate resumption of strikes if needed. The official also denied Iranian claims of additional US strikes on Thursday as inaccurate, and noted that the USS Lincoln crew remains at top readiness.
New details from a senior US administration official, reported by CNN on Friday morning, reveal that Washington's alternating strikes and pauses in the Middle East are a deliberate strategy to prevent regional escalation while allowing diplomatic efforts to advance. The official stated that the Pentagon has maintained an extensive target bank that has not been struck, serving as a 'bargaining chip and political leverage.' Concrete preparations exist for immediate resumption of strikes, but the White House is currently prioritizing the diplomatic track.
This report follows earlier CNN reporting covered by The Zioneer at 10:11 Jerusalem, in which the same source said preparations for more strikes on Iran continue but are being held off for diplomacy. The new account adds the strategic rationale: alternating rounds of strikes and pauses are designed to both apply pressure and create space for negotiations. The official also denied Iranian claims of additional US strikes on Thursday, calling them inaccurate.
The report also noted that the commander of the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, sailing in the Arabian Sea, has instructed all crew to maintain top operational readiness for any scenario, reflecting continued high alert despite the diplomatic pause. The situation remains dynamic, with the official emphasizing that strikes will resume if necessary.
3 developments
- StrongVP Vance: US-Iran ceasefire is a strategic pause to refill global oil market
- DevelopingUS strikes prioritize Strait of Hormuz freedom of navigation, sources say
- ConfirmedUS intensifies last-minute diplomatic push to avert Iranian retaliation against Israel
- ConfirmedUS official to CNN: Strikes on Iran were a warning, unlikely to harm negotiations
Source and signal
- Internal intake