Trump denies internal rift over potential aggression against Iran as criticism mounts

US President Donald Trump has denied reports that the top US military officer had flagged the severe risks of a major attack against Iran, as domestic and international pressure mounts against further escalation in West Asia.

US media recently reported that General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had warned of the myriad dangers associated with strikes against Iran, including the high probability of a costly, long-term entanglement.

However, Trump claimed on his Truth Social network that it was "100 percent incorrect" that Caine was "against us going to war with Iran."

"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," Trump stated.

Earlier, The Washington Post reported that Caine expressed concern at the White House and Pentagon regarding munition shortages and a lack of allied support, which could leave US personnel vulnerable.

Similarly, The Wall Street Journal noted that Pentagon officials are wary of US and allied casualties, as well as the depletion of American air defenses should they attempt to strike Iranian territory.

The Axios news outlet further claimed that Caine warned of the United States "becoming entangled in a prolonged conflict."

Iran won’t initiate war, but will ‘decisively’ defend itself against aggression: UN envoy

The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations stresses that the Islamic Republic will not initiate any war but will deliver a “decisive” response to an act of aggression against the country.

Even within Trump's inner circle, figures such as negotiator Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have reportedly urged the president to abandon threats in favor of diplomacy, according to Axios.

Despite these warnings, the US president accused media outlets of writing "incorrectly, and purposefully so."

He once again issued threats against Iran and its people, promising a "very bad day" if an agreement is not reached during ongoing nuclear talks on a replacement for the 2015 nuclear deal, which was derailed by Trump’s unilateral decision to tear it up during his first term.

While the two countries held a second round of talks earlier this month in Switzerland, a third round is scheduled for Thursday.

Meantime, Washington has continued its policy of "maximum pressure" by deploying a massive military force to the region, which includes two aircraft carriers, over a dozen warships, and a large contingent of warplanes.

Iran’s layered arsenal primed to deter – and decimate – US warships in Persian Gulf

As tensions rise amid the US military buildup near the Persian Gulf, Iran’s layered arsenal of missiles, drones, submarines, and mines – combined with the region’s geography – positions Tehran to effectively deter American naval power.

Trump’s recent rhetoric suggesting a pursuit of regime change in Iran marks a stark reversal of his campaign promises to end "dumb regime change wars" in West Asia.

Iran has warned the US against any strikes, even "limited" ones, vowing a decisive response that would put US regional bases and Israel under immediate fire.

On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that any American military action, regardless of scale, would be viewed as an act of war and unwarranted aggression.

"And any state would react to an act of aggression as part of its inherent right of self-defense, ferociously. So that’s what we would do," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said during a briefing in Tehran.

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