U.S. General Urges Trump Administration to Seek Off-Ramp From Iran War

Washington: General Dan Caine, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, has privately urged senior Trump administration officials to seek a path toward de-escalation in the war with Iran, amid concerns that available military options may produce limited results while triggering a broader Iranian retaliation.
According to reports in foreign media, Caine raised his concerns with CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. Officials reportedly believe that air power alone is unlikely to force Tehran to accept U.S. demands, while President Donald Trump has continued to favor avoiding a ground invasion.
Caine and other senior officials allegedly questioned proposals presented in late July to intensify military operations against Iran. Their concerns reportedly focused on the risk that Iran could retaliate against U.S. allies, Gulf states and the region’s energy infrastructure. Trump is said to have postponed the operation after Gulf partners warned of possible attacks.
The reports also highlighted growing concerns over declining U.S. stocks of air-defense interceptors and precision-guided munitions. Such shortages could limit Washington’s ability to sustain a prolonged conflict.
Caine has warned Trump about the military risks but has also emphasized that U.S. forces could inflict severe damage on Iran if ordered to do so. Administration officials are reportedly seeking an outcome that Trump could present as a political victory while preserving room for diplomacy and potentially securing an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Families Raise Concerns Over USS Lincoln Deployment
Meanwhile, families of sailors and Marines aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln have confronted senior Navy leaders over the vessel’s prolonged deployment during the Iran war.
Reports said approximately 200 family members met with Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao in San Diego and raised concerns about crew fatigue, mental health, food shortages, contaminated water, bathroom problems, security and disruptions to mail delivery.
Navy officials said the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group was being prepared to eventually relieve the Lincoln, but they did not provide a firm date, citing operational security.
By Friday, the USS Lincoln had been deployed for 259 days, with its crew spending 208 consecutive days at sea. Navy officials acknowledged the pressure on military families and said logistical problems in Bahrain had disrupted supplies, although conditions were reportedly improving.