US MILITARY CHIEF IS QUIETLY ARGUING FOR AN EXIT

General Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, has been privately telling the CIA Director, Secretary of State, and Vice President that the available military options could backfire and the US needs a way out 12CNN Trump’s top general is ‘looking for an off-ramp’ from Iran war as US military options remain limited, sources say. Multiple sources confirmed it, with one describing his inter-agency lobbying as "his way of protecting the military" 12CNN Trump’s top general is ‘looking for an off-ramp’ from Iran war as US military options remain limited, sources say. The specific concern is munitions: precision weapons stocks are running short, and Iran is the kind of fight that exhausts inventories that take years to rebuild 7JPO US Gen. Dan Caine looking for 'off-ramp' to avoid further escalation in Iran war - report. Trump has publicly denied the shortfall; Caine and others "privately view that outcome as unlikely" 12CNN Trump’s top general is ‘looking for an off-ramp’ from Iran war as US military options remain limited, sources say. The White House praised Caine and cited "overwhelming success" rather than address any of the substance, which is a communications response, not a rebuttal.

Security Council secretary Zolqadr published formal prerequisites for reopening the Strait: full war termination, US troop withdrawal from the region, compensation for damages, sanctions removal, and asset unfreezing 1TTM Iran sets six conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz 4AAM Iran security chief says Strait of Hormuz to remain closed until US meets Tehran’s demands. None of those are happening soon. The Iranian army spokesman added that US acceptance of "the existing reality" is "irreversible" 4AAM Iran security chief says Strait of Hormuz to remain closed until US meets Tehran’s demands. This is Tehran declaring what winning looks like, issued while Foreign Minister Araghchi tells Oman a deal is "very close" 2TOI Top US general said urging Iran war ‘off-ramp’ as Tehran and Oman near Hormuz deal 5TSN Araqchi: Hormuz Reopening Tied to US Compliance with MoU. Both things are true, and the gap between them is the entire diplomatic problem.

The IRGC hit an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company tanker in the Strait, the 15th ADNOC vessel struck since the war began, including three this week, with one crew member killed and 20 injured across the recent attacks 3AJE UAE says Iran targeted ADNOC tanker in Strait of Hormuz, no casualties. Saudi Arabia cited UN Security Council Resolution 2817, the GCC Secretary-General called it a "dangerous and unacceptable escalation," and the UAE framed it as piracy 3AJE UAE says Iran targeted ADNOC tanker in Strait of Hormuz, no casualties. The breadth of that condemnation matters because Gulf states have been conspicuously careful about public attribution until now. That caution is eroding.

Riyadh sent its intelligence chief to Baghdad to repair ties with the Iraqi prime minister after the July 29 US-Saudi strikes, and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has postponed (not cancelled) its planned retaliation, crediting lobbying by pro-Iran faction leader Hadi al-Amiri 11AJE Saudi intelligence chief meets Iraqi PM, renews Riyadh visit invitation. The Saudi visit and the delay are connected: Riyadh needs Baghdad as a pressure valve, and Baghdad needs to demonstrate control before its September 30 disarmament deadline for armed groups 11AJE Saudi intelligence chief meets Iraqi PM, renews Riyadh visit invitation. Whether al-Amiri's influence holds past this week is the open question.

A Guardian ground report from inside Iran describes a country where the war has paradoxically suppressed the anti-government protests that were accelerating before February 10GDN Travelling through Iran reveals no single narrative about the US-Israel war. A Tomahawk strike on a primary school in Minab on the first day of the war killed 156 people, including 120 children, and the site is still being excavated 10GDN Travelling through Iran reveals no single narrative about the US-Israel war. That civilian toll is the reason Iran's government retains public legitimacy on the war even among citizens who oppose the regime on everything else, and it is the context that sits beneath every diplomatic framework being negotiated in Muscat.