Middle East Crisis Iran War

US top military official reportedly seeks end to Iran war

The US's highest-ranking general, the head of defense, Dan Caine, has behind closed doors urged the Trump administration to seek an end to the war in Iran, as the remaining military options are risky and unlikely to achieve Trump's goals. This is reported by three sources to CNN.

- Caine is looking for a way out of this, says one of the sources.

According to the information, he is not alone in his views in Trump's inner circle and Cain has held meetings with those who agree with him so that the president is met with a unified message.

The assessment is that a ground invasion of Iran is required to achieve Trump's stated goals, but it is an option that basically no one in the administration wants to see.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey in New Defense Pact

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have signed a NATO-style defense pact, CNN reports.

The agreement, which was signed in Mecca on Friday, states that an attack on one of the countries will be considered an attack on all.

This means that Saudi Arabia has two of the heaviest Muslim military powers in its corner. Turkey has NATO's second-largest military and Pakistan is the only Muslim nuclear-armed country.

The defense pact risks drawing Pakistan and Turkey into the Iran war, which they have so far kept at arm's length, CNN reports.

During the course of the war, the oil-rich Gulf states have increasingly begun to doubt Washington's ability to protect them.