Iran-US relations

Trump's closest men reportedly warn of major risks of attack on Iran

Several of Donald Trump's ministers and closest men have warned that an attack on Iran poses major security risks, several sources tell Axios. His special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are reported to have asked the president to try to reach an agreement with Iran through diplomatic channels.

Defense chief Dan Caine is said to have warned that military action risks dragging the United States into a long-term conflict, according to the information. Two of the sources state that Caine was encouraging about the attack on Venezuela but that he was more cautious in the Iran discussions.

A source tells the site that the defense chief supports Trump's decision, even though he himself has not advocated an attack.

JD Vance, Trump's vice president, has also raised the major risks of an attack in recent days.

Analysis: US Could Face Multi-Day Strike on Iran

A US strike on Iran would be more comprehensive than President Donald Trump's previous, more discreet military interventions, writes Brett McGurk, who has worked on security issues under several US presidents, in an analysis for CNN.

According to McGurk, three previously separate issues have now merged: Iran's missile arsenal, the regime's violent crackdown on its own soil, and the country's unresolved nuclear program. Together, they reduce the US's scope for limited action, he writes.

"It would be a multi-day campaign at the very least, and whether it escalates thereafter - to include Iran's leadership and economic infrastructure - would depend on how Iran responds to the initial attacks."

Yonah Jeremy Bob, military correspondent and intelligence analyst for the Jerusalem Post, also tries to predict what a US strike on Iran might look like. He sees several possible times for an attack, the most likely of which is early or mid-next week. Another option is in connection with the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on March 19, and the least likely option, according to him, is that it will take even longer.

The conflict between the US and Iran – it comes down to the matter

• In February 2026, the US and Iran held indirect talks about Iran's nuclear program in Oman and Geneva, with Oman acting as mediator.
• The talks took place at the same time as the US has significantly increased its military presence in the Middle East, including with two aircraft carriers.
• The US has demanded that Iran stop enriching uranium, while Iran has demanded sanctions relief and refused to give up uranium enrichment completely.
• The parties have agreed on guiding principles for an agreement, but several sources state that the US is considering military action if no agreement is reached.
• Tensions have increased further following military exercises, threatening rhetoric and reports that the US is ready for an attack on Iran soon.