Trump’s despair over Iran revealed in memo seeking ‘creative and unconventional’ ways to punish the enemy: report

U.S. military officials say effort to crowdsource a solution to the war via email blast is highly unusual

The Trump administration is running out of ways to pressure Iran, with its airstrikes failing to end Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz or force the country back to the negotiating table. So now the military is asking for “unconventional” new ideas. CNN reports that an officer in the U.S. Central Command’s intellig

Military officials described the crowdsourcing-style email as unusual, while a second source said CENTCOM was reviewing its approach and considering a wide range of alternatives.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters onboard Air Force One while returning to the White House, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)The US Central Command has asked military analysts for “new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran” as Washington considers alternatives to bring Te

The request from a senior officer at the US military command carrying out President Donald Trump’s war with Iran came in an email: We need ideas. “We are looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran,” an officer in US Central Command’s intelligence branch wrote in a message sent Wednesda

Exclusive: US military asks troops for ‘creative and unconventional’ ideas to punish Iran  CNN