US Mulling an ‘Off Ramp’ On Iran As Top General Advises Trump Iran Attack Would Be ‘Far More Difficult’ Than Venezuela: NYT
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Minister Donald Trump Iran is considering options to avoid a major military conflict with Iran if it does not abandon its nuclear program after the General Dan “The Priest” Caine An attack on him, he said, would be “much more difficult” than the operation that captured him. Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, New York Times It was reported Sunday evening.
Report He said Trump and key members of his administration will travel to Geneva on Thursday to meet with Iranian negotiators; The meeting appears to be a “last resort” effort to avoid a military conflict.
“President Trump has told advisers that if diplomacy or any initially targeted U.S. strike does not lead Iran to yield to his demands that it give up its nuclear program, he will consider a much larger attack in the coming months aimed at removing that country’s leaders from power,” the report said.
Times The story has four reporters on the byline – Julian E. Barnes, David E. Sanger, Tyler PagerAnd Eric Schmitt.
The report said members of Trump’s team and the Iranian side are considering “a move toward military conflict” that would include a “very limited nuclear enrichment program” to be used only for medical research. This is because some members of the administration have expressed “doubts” that Iran’s nuclear program will be completely eliminated if the United States simply launches airstrikes.
Here’s a key part about Caine warning Trump that attacking Iran might be harder than initially expected:
During discussions last month about the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, General Caine told Mr. Trump that the chances of success were high. But General Caine was unable to give Mr. Trump the same assurance during the Iran discussions, largely because Iran was a much more difficult target.
[Vice President JD] vanceHaving long called for greater restraint in military operations overseas, he questioned General Caine and Mr Ratcliffe extensively at the meeting, although he did not oppose the strike. He pressed them to share their views on the options and called for more discussion about the risks and complexities of carrying out an attack against Iran.
The report comes just days after CBS senior White House correspondent Jennifer Jacobs Senior military officials reportedly told Trump that the military was ready for a possible attack this weekend. And Axios Barak Ravid reported Sources said on February 18 that “the US military operation in Iran will likely be a massive, weeks-long operation more akin to a full-fledged war than the decisive operation in Venezuela last month.”
All of this took place amid months of protests against Iran’s theocratic regime at home.
The Times’ report added that Trump left open the possibility of “a military strike later this year to help oust the Ayatollah.” Ali Khamenei. It looks like this could go a long way towards the big summit this Thursday.
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