The Pentagon is sending serious warnings to President Trump, saying that any extended military campaign against Iran could be far more costly and complicated than many people realize. The concerns include U.S. and allied casualties, air defense systems running low, and military forces being stretched too thin.
According to The Wall Street Journal, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has largely led these discussions, voicing worries within the Defense Department and during National Security Council meetings. Other Pentagon leaders share similar concerns. Officials stress the significant scale of these risks, even as such warnings are a normal part of military planning.
Officials are looking at options ranging from limited strikes to a days-long aerial campaign aimed at regime change. A prolonged campaign could seriously strain U.S. forces and weapons stockpiles. Using too many air-defense interceptors and other items that are in limited supply could also complicate preparations for a potential future conflict with China.
The U.S. military is already stretched thin, and a war with Iran could push it past its limits
A major concern is weapons capacity. Officials worry the U.S. might only have enough interceptors, like Patriot, Thaad, and SM-3 munitions, to counter Iranian missile attacks for about two weeks. The Pentagon flagged these supply gaps last June when the U.S. helped defend Israel from Iranian missile attacks. Weapons stocks were also strained during the nearly two-month bombing campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen last spring.
To strengthen its position, the U.S. has sent additional Thaad and Patriot antimissile systems to allies including Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Israel. Additionally, 13 guided-missile destroyers are now positioned in the Middle East and Mediterranean waters, ready to intercept Iranian threats. Critics have pointed out that Trump’s national security priorities often come at a significant cost to the American public.
There is also a real human cost. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest U.S. warship, has been at sea since last June and is nearing an 11-month deployment, a record for a continuous mission. The ship has faced sewage problems, and sailors are overtaxed, with some considering leaving the Navy after returning home. Overstretched crews have contributed to past accidents, such as when the USS Harry S. Truman lost several jet fighters near the end of an eight-month deployment in April and May 2025.
Iran, for its part, is not backing down. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has threatened that his forces could sink a U.S. warship, and Iran has vowed to retaliate as hard as possible against any American attack. In response to growing fears, the State Department recently announced the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family members from the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon.
President Trump has not yet made a decision. General Caine is widely seen as a trusted aide, and his concerns, along with those of other Pentagon leaders, will factor into the president’s decision on whether and how to attack Iran. Trump has shown a pattern of replacing officials who defy his agenda with those more aligned with his views. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly noted that President Trump “listens to a host of opinions and decides based on what’s best for U.S. national security.”
Even as military options are being considered, the Trump administration is still negotiating with Iran, seeking a deal to block Tehran’s pathways toward a nuclear weapon, curb its ballistic-missile program, and reduce its support for proxy groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday in Geneva, where Iran is expected to present its positions to Trump’s peace envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Published: Feb 24, 2026 03:47 pm