Trump’s top general urges de‑escalation of Iran war; US moves to open Strait of Hormuz and forge Sunni defence pact.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, has told senior Trump officials that the United States needs a clear exit strategy from the conflict with Iran, according to a CNN report. The discussion involved the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and the vice president, JD Vance. Officials in the report said that Caine warned the administration that relying solely on air power would not compel Tehran to meet U.S. demands, and that President Trump had been reluctant to approve a ground invasion. The concern is that limited military action could spark wider retaliation. The talk was partly a reaction to a proposed escalation in late July, at which time Gulf partners warned the U.S. of potential attacks. Trump postponed the operation after those warnings were raised. Another worry mentioned by top advisers is that U.S. weapon stocks – including air‑defence interceptors and precision munitions – have been heavily drawn down and might not sustain a prolonged conflict. In search of a diplomatic resolution, the administration is exploring ways to relax the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports once a deal can be reached to allow commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. A U.S. official said a forthcoming agreement between Iran and Oman is likely. If the Strait reopens, oil flow could resume; currently about one‑fifth of global oil traffic has been disrupted, which has driven up prices and contributed to inflation. While diplomatic work continues, a March joint defence pact was signed this week by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey. The decision was meant to deter aggression toward any of the signatories and is seen as a counter‑measure against Iran’s influence in the region. The U.S. military’s Central Command has not reported any strikes on Iran since July 29, and the latest talks about the Strait remain in progress. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company reported that 15 of its vessels were struck in the waterway since the war began, killing one crew member and wounding 20.