President Donald Trump [EPA]
President Donald Trump [EPA]

The top US military leadership is seeking an exit strategy from the war with Iran, CNN reported Friday.

The push stems from assessments that airstrikes alone are unlikely to achieve the goals President Donald Trump has publicly stated, and that options under consideration to escalate the armed conflict could backfire.

According to sources cited by CNN, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine has reached out to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance to convey his view that the military needs to find a way out of the Iran war.

Trump has signaled his belief that airstrikes can compel Iran to come to the negotiating table.

But his advisers consider that outcome unlikely and have been working to develop other viable options within the parameters Trump has set.

A drawdown in US ammunition stockpiles has also been a factor. Sources told CNN that senior military leaders now assess munitions reserves as "dangerously depleted," and that Caine raised concerns about the stockpiles at a recent meeting with Trump.

Meanwhile, Trump was reportedly furious after a string of media reports highlighting a serious shortage of US interceptor missiles, and he ordered an investigation to identify whoever leaked the classified information. Senior Trump administration officials told US media that the negative coverage of ammunition stockpiles had driven him "crazy."


sjpark@heraldcorp.com