Axios, citing three US officials, reported that the Trump administration is weighing a military option from US Central Command: carry out "periodic limited strikes" on Iranian radar, air defense systems, and anti-ship missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz. The goal is simple. Stop Iran from rebuilding the military capacity it could use to hit commercial vessels.
Inside the government, the operation is being called "mow the lawn." The idea is to wear down Iranian military facilities through ongoing, limited attacks instead of setting off a large-scale war. President Trump still has not formally signed off on it. But the recent Iranian missile strike on a US military base in Jordan may have changed the mood inside the White House.
US officials said Iran is trying to rebuild its radar, air defense, and anti-ship missile capabilities. And the US military believes repeated strikes are needed to keep shipping safe in the Strait of Hormuz. The US has already hit Iranian military targets near the strait and has also carried out mine-sweeping and escort missions.
If Trump approves it, the plan would shift US action from occasional strikes to a sustained, low-intensity campaign against Iran. That could raise tensions across the region. And it could mean more danger for shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz.