WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Monday (Feb 23) denied studies that the highest US army officer had flagged the dangers of a major operation against Iran, saying Washington would “simply” beat Tehran in any warfare.
US media reported that Basic Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, had warned of assorted dangers related to strikes in opposition to Iran, together with a long-term entanglement.
However Trump stated on his Reality Social community that it was “100 per cent incorrect” that Caine was “in opposition to us going to warfare with Iran”.
“Basic Caine, like all of us, would really like to not see Struggle however, if a call is made on going in opposition to Iran at a Army degree, it’s his opinion that it is going to be one thing simply received,” Trump wrote.
“He has not spoken of not doing Iran, and even the pretend restricted strikes that I’ve been studying about, he solely is aware of one factor, easy methods to WIN and, if he’s informed to take action, he will probably be main the pack.”
The Washington Publish stated Caine had expressed concern on the White Home and Pentagon that munition shortages and a scarcity of allied help might improve hazard to US personnel.
And the Wall Road Journal stated each the highest normal and different Pentagon officers have warned of dangers similar to US and allied casualties in addition to the hazard of US air defences being depleted if its forces strike Iran.
The Axios information outlet in the meantime stated Caine had warned of the USA “turning into entangled in a chronic battle”.
Trump’s roving negotiator Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner had additionally been urging the president to carry off assaults and provides diplomacy an opportunity, Axios stated.
The US president, nonetheless accused the media shops of writing “incorrectly, and purposefully so”.
“I’m the one which makes the choice, I’d quite have a Deal than not however, if we do not make a Deal, it is going to be a really unhealthy day for that Nation and, very sadly, its individuals,” Trump added.
Trump, who ordered strikes on Iran’s nuclear services final 12 months, has repeatedly threatened Tehran with additional army motion if ongoing talks don’t attain a alternative for the nuclear deal the US president tore up in 2018, throughout his first time period in workplace.
Washington has deployed a massive military force to the Middle East, sending two plane carriers in addition to greater than a dozen different ships, a lot of warplanes and different belongings to the area.
However negotiations are nonetheless set to proceed, with a US official saying the subsequent spherical of talks with Tehran would happen on Thursday.
