Oman warns Hormuz attacks could undermine navigation talks

Washington, DC, US – Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Dan Caine has privately urged senior President Donald Trump administration officials to seek a way to de-escalate the war with Iran, amid concerns that available military options could produce limited results and trigger wider retaliation, according to a CNN report.

Citing three sources familiar with the discussions, CNN reported that Caine raised his concerns with senior officials including, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.

The report said Caine and other officials believe airpower alone is unlikely to force Tehran to accept US demands, while  Trump’s continued preference is to avoid a ground invasion.

Caine and other senior officials were reportedly sceptical of a proposed escalation in late July, partly due to concerns about Iranian retaliation against US allies and regional energy infrastructure. Trump ultimately postponed the operation after Gulf partners warned of possible attacks, said the report.

‘Nearly six months into a conflict which opened with weeks of claims that Iran’s military capabilities had been decimated, and which remains defined by the president’s pledge of preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, it is highly significant that Trump’s most senior general is privately arguing there is no easy military solution to end a war the president chose to enter,’ it stated.

The report also highlighted growing concerns about depleted US weapons stocks, including air-defence interceptors and other precision munitions, which could constrain Washington’s ability to sustain a prolonged conflict.

Noting that Caine has warned Trump about the military risks, CNN said he also emphasised US forces could inflict significant damage on Iran if ordered to escalate.

The report said administration officials are now looking for an outcome Trump could portray as a political victory while leaving room for diplomacy, including a possible agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Oman warns Hormuz attacks could undermine navigation talks

Muscat – Oman on Saturday condemned repeated attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such incidents violate international law and threaten maritime security and regional stability.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the attacks also constituted a violation of the sovereignty of territorial waters and posed risks to the safety of navigation through the strategic waterway.

The ministry said ongoing negotiations over navigation arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz were progressing in a ‘positive and constructive atmosphere’.

Oman urged all parties to avoid actions that could undermine the talks or jeopardise progress already made, stressing that the negotiations take into account the interests of all sides.

Agencies