US President Donald Trump has rejected media reports claiming that General Daniel Caine cautioned Washington against going to war with Iran, calling the stories “100 per cent incorrect” and accusing the media of deliberate misrepresentation.
The remarks come at a time when tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high, negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme are ongoing, and the US is reinforcing its military footprint across West Asia.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: “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. The story does not attribute this vast wealth of knowledge to anyone, and is 100% incorrect.”
He added that Caine, like him, “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.”
What Trump said about General Daniel Caine
Trump further asserted that Caine had not spoken about refraining from military action or even about “fake limited strikes” reported in the media.
“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. Everything that has been written about a potential War with Iran has been written incorrectly, and purposefully so,” Trump said.
Warning to Iran over nuclear deal
The US President reiterated his preference for a negotiated settlement but issued a sharp warning to Tehran if talks fail.
“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, because they are great and wonderful, and something like this should never have happened to them,” he said.
Trump warned Iran to come to terms with the United States on the nuclear deal, stating that failure to do so would result in serious consequences.
Military movements in West Asia raise stakes
The developments follow media reports suggesting that Daniel Caine had cautioned Trump and senior American officials that a military campaign against Iran could carry significant risks, including the possibility of becoming entangled in a prolonged conflict.
Meanwhile, the United States continues to strengthen its military presence in the region, raising concerns of a broader confrontation.
According to a report by The New York Times, hundreds of servicemen have been transferred from the Al Udeid base in Qatar, citing Pentagon officials.
Similar logistical shifts have reportedly been observed across American facilities in Bahrain, which is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters, as well as in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates.
Government officials are said to be concerned that the 30,000 to 40,000 US troops positioned in the region could become primary targets in the event of an all-out conflict with the Islamic Republic.
Iran-US talks set to continue
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet a US delegation in Geneva on Thursday for the next round of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
The two sides have already held two rounds of talks so far this month in a bid to reach a deal.