WASHINGTON — U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine has privately advised President Donald Trump and other senior administration officials to seek a way to bring the war with Iran to an end, according to a CNN report citing three people familiar with the discussions.
Caine reportedly believes that continued U.S. airstrikes and further military escalation are unlikely, on their own, to achieve the objectives President Trump has set for the conflict. He has warned that expanding the military campaign could potentially backfire while failing to force Tehran to accept Washington’s demands.
According to the report, Caine has been discussing the need for an “off-ramp” from the conflict with senior members of Trump’s national security team, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
The concerns come as the United States continues its military campaign against targets inside Iran. U.S. military officials are reportedly assessing the limits of airpower and the challenges of achieving a decisive political outcome through airstrikes alone.
Caine’s position reflects growing concern within parts of the Trump administration that the conflict could enter a dangerous and prolonged phase. Rather than simply increasing the intensity of military operations, officials are reportedly considering diplomatic and political options that could allow Washington to disengage while avoiding the appearance of defeat.
The general’s warning also highlights the broader risks of prolonging the conflict, including further regional escalation, increased pressure on U.S. military resources and the possibility of Iranian retaliation that could expand the war beyond Iran’s borders.
The report does not indicate that Caine is calling for an unconditional or immediate U.S. withdrawal. Instead, he is reportedly urging the administration to develop a realistic strategy for ending the conflict while protecting U.S. interests and avoiding an open-ended war.
The development comes amid broader concerns among U.S. officials about the consequences of sustained military operations, including pressure on weapons and missile-interceptor stocks and the possibility that a prolonged conflict could place additional demands on the U.S. military.
Caine’s reported advice underscores a major strategic challenge facing the Trump administration: while continued U.S. airstrikes may inflict significant damage on Iranian military capabilities, military force alone may not be sufficient to achieve the political objectives Washington is seeking.
The discussions could therefore signal a growing focus within the U.S. administration on finding a diplomatic or negotiated pathway to end the conflict before it develops into a wider and potentially more costly regional war.
