US military seeks creative options to pressure Iran as strikes called off

On August 3, 2026, the US military released a video of an F-35 fighter jet taking off from the USS Lincoln carrier amid tensions with Iran. However, President Trump called off planned strikes, causing oil prices to plummet. The Pentagon chief stated that the US remains ready for strikes on a scale not seen since World War II. In a shift, the Pentagon is now asking soldiers for 'creative' and 'unconventional' ideas to pressure Iran, as reported by multiple outlets.