The Pentagon's top general has cautioned the White House about the risks of a potential US military strike on Iran, as President Donald Trump publicly dismissed reports of internal opposition to such action. According to people familiar with private discussions, Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned President Trump and senior officials at a White House meeting last week that significant shortfalls in critical munitions and a lack of allied support would increase the risks of any major operation against Iran and endanger US personnel.
The meeting, which has not previously been reported, included Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House adviser Stephen Miller, one person told The Washington Post.
Gen Caine is said to have expressed concern that US munitions stockpiles have been depleted by Washington's defence of Israel and support for Ukraine. In separate Pentagon meetings this month, he also raised concerns about the potential scale and complexity of an Iran campaign, as well as the possibility of US casualties, according to one person familiar with the deliberations.
In a statement, the Joint Chiefs chairman's office said that, in his role as the President's top military adviser, he "provides a range of military options, as well as secondary considerations and associated impacts and risks, to the civilian leaders who make America's security decisions." It added that he "provides these options confidentially."
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump listens to a "host of opinions on any given issue and decides based on what is best for US national security." She described Gen Caine as a "talented and highly valued member of President Trump's national security team."
After publication of the report, Trump wrote on social media that it was "100% incorrect" to suggest that Gen Caine was "against us going to War with Iran".
"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," Trump wrote.
He said the general "knows Iran well" because he had overseen "Midnight Hammer, the attack on the Iranian Nuclear Development", which Trump said "was blown to smithereens by our Great B-2 Bombers". Trump added: "I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don't make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people."
People who spoke toThe Washington Postabout Gen Caine's views directly contradicted the President's optimistic characterisation.
Gen Caine's views are regarded within the administration as credible in part because he oversaw two recent major operations: the assault on Iran's nuclear sites last summer and a January raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. One person familiar with his thinking said the general would support whatever decision the President makes and does not want to be seen as taking any option off the table.
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