Dan Kane, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has emphasised in private conversations with advisers to President Donald Trump the need to find a way to end the war with Iran, according to CNN. According to the channel’s sources, a new military escalation could have negative consequences for the US, and air strikes alone are not enough to achieve the White House’s objectives.
Briefly about the main points
- Kane called on the Trump administration to find a way to end the war.
- An American general sees risks in further military escalation.
- Some advisers doubt that the air strikes will secure the deal Washington is seeking.
- Trump linked the opening of the canal to the possibility of declaring victory.
- Iran is demanding political and financial concessions from the US.
The military leadership is discussing the limits of a military scenario
In recent weeks, the Dan Kane discussed the limitations on the available military options with the Director of the CIA by John Ratcliffe, State Secretary Marco Rubio and vice-president JD Vance, writes CNN citing sources familiar with the discussions.
According to them, the general held private consultations with like-minded individuals amongst Trump’s key advisers ahead of meetings with the president. The aim was to reach a consensus on the risks and weaknesses of the various options, particularly those that did not involve sending US troops into Iran.
CNN notes that Kane is not the only member of the president’s team who regards the war as a turning point. The administration is trying to devise alternative approaches that would comply with the restrictions set by Trump.
Trump’s hope for a political resolution to the conflict
According to CNN, Trump has consistently shown a reluctance to send ground troops to Iran. The President had hoped that air strikes would force Tehran to agree to a deal on American terms.
However, Kane and other members of the administration privately regard such an outcome as unlikely. They are exploring other options within the framework of the President’s approach, without envisaging the deployment of ground forces.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump had hoped to use opening of the Strait of Hormuz to declare victory and bring the conflict to an end, even without a nuclear deal. However, Tehran is seeking not merely a cessation of hostilities, but broader agreements with Washington.
Tehran is linking the Strait of Hormuz to US demands
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Mohammad Bagher Zolgadr stated that the strait would not be opened until the US changed its policy. Among Tehran’s conditions are an end to the US naval blockade, the withdrawal of troops from the region and a definitive end to the war.
Iran is also demanding that sanctions be lifted, assets be unfrozen and compensation be paid for the losses caused by the conflict. The Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran would not begin negotiations from the US, until Washington, in the view of the Iranian side, has rectified its breach of the June memorandum.
Iran and Oman have reported progress in negotiations regarding the shipping regime in the Strait of Hormuz and a temporary route for vessels. At the same time, Tehran has emphasised separately that a technical agreement on the management of the waterway would not, in itself, mean its immediate reopening.
