US President Donald Trump has denied media reports suggesting that General Daniel Caine advised Washington against a war with Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the reports as “100 per cent incorrect,” adding that they fail to recognize Caine’s “vast wealth of knowledge.” He noted that while Caine, like him, “would not like to see war,” he is confident that any conflict “can be easily won.”
“Numerous stories from the Fake News Media have circulated claiming that General Daniel Caine, sometimes referred to as Razin, is opposed to going to war with Iran. These stories do not attribute this vast knowledge to anyone and are 100% incorrect. General Caine, like all of us, would prefer to avoid war, but if a military decision against Iran is made, he believes it can be easily won,” Trump said.
“He has not spoken against Iran, nor about the limited strikes being reported. He only knows how to WIN and, if instructed, will lead the effort. Everything written about a potential war with Iran has been incorrect and deliberately so,” he added.
Trump also warned Iran to reach an agreement with the US on the nuclear deal, saying that failure to do so “will be a very bad day for that country and, sadly, its people.”
“I am the one who makes the decisions. I would prefer a deal, but if we don’t reach one, it will be a very bad day for that country and its people—who are great and wonderful—and such a situation should never have arisen,” he said.
The clarification comes after reports suggested that Caine cautioned Trump and senior US officials that a military campaign against Iran could involve serious risks, including the danger of a prolonged conflict.
Meanwhile, the United States is strengthening its military presence in the region, raising concerns about a potential broader conflict with Iran.
According to The New York Times, hundreds of servicemen have been moved from the Al Udeid base in Qatar, based on Pentagon sources. Similar troop relocations have been reported across US facilities in Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE.
Officials fear that the 30,000 to 40,000 US troops currently deployed in the region could become primary targets if an all-out war breaks out.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet a US delegation in Geneva on Thursday for the next round of talks on the country’s nuclear program. The two sides have already conducted two rounds of negotiations this month in an effort to reach an agreement. (Agency)
