US military reportedly asks personnel for ‘creative’ ways to punish Iran

US military reportedly asks personnel for ‘creative’ ways to punish Iran Bruce Golding Monday 31 August 2026 22:53 BST Bookmark popover Removed from bookmarks Close popover Trump says canceled Iran attack would have been the biggest 'since WWII' The U.S. military's Central Command intelligence branch reportedly sent an email to military analysts seeking "new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran ." Military officials described this crowdsourcing effort to find solutions for the conflict with Iran as highly unusual, CNN reported. The initiative coincides with President Donald Trump 's consideration of "fireworks"-style airstrikes against Iran, intended as a symbolic show of force to declare victory. CENTCOM has also developed a plan for a one- to two-week heavy bombing campaign aimed at eliminating Iran's missile capabilities. Trump had previously threatened Iran with severe action but later announced he had decided to "cancel the attack" after Iran and other Middle East countries asked him to “hold off,” pending an agreement by Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping and to end its nuclear ambitions. In full Trump’s despair over Iran revealed in memo seeking ‘creative and unconventional’ ways to punish the enemy: report