US President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed media reports claiming that General Daniel Caine had warned him against launching a military action on Iran.
Trump said that General Caine, like others in his administration, would prefer to avoid war but believes that, if military action becomes necessary, it would be decisively won by the US.
“Numerous stories from the Fake News Media have been circulating stating that General Daniel Caine, sometimes referred to as Razin, is against us going to War with Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“The story does not attribute this vast wealth of knowledge to anyone, and is 100% incorrect,” he added.
Media reports had suggested that Caine, Trump's top military adviser, had cautioned him about the significant risks of striking Iran, particularly the possibility of becoming entangled in a prolonged conflict.
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Axios, citing two sources, reported that Caine viewed the stakes of a major operation in Iran as high, with increased risks of extended involvement and American casualties. It said Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have also been urging the president to hold off and give diplomacy a chance.
Refuting these claims, Trump said: “General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won.”
“He has not spoken of not doing Iran, or even the fake limited strikes that I have been reading about, he only knows one thing, how to WIN and, if he is told to do so, he will be leading the pack,” Trump added.
According to a New York Times report, while General Caine had previously told Trump there was a high likelihood of success before the US operation in Venezuela, he has not offered the same level of reassurance during the Iran discussions.
Trump, meanwhile, issued a fresh warning to Tehran, urging it to reach an agreement with the US on its nuclear programme and cautioning that it would face severe consequences if it failed to do so.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to meet an Iranian delegation in Geneva on Thursday, even as Washington continues to bolster its military presence in the region.
A second US aircraft carrier is heading to the area, joining a growing deployment of American warships and aircraft, fueling speculation about a possible strike.
On Monday, the US ordered nonessential diplomats and their family members at the US Embassy in Beirut to leave Lebanon, Reuters reported.
Lebanon has long been a flashpoint for Iran-linked retaliatory attacks against US facilities, interests and personnel, largely due to Tehran’s support for and influence over the Hezbollah militant group.
