Gen. Caine Made Secret May 19 CENTCOM Trip for Iran Ground-Seizure Briefings
Updated
Updated · AlterNet · Jun 12
Gen. Caine Made Secret May 19 CENTCOM Trip for Iran Ground-Seizure Briefings
3 articles · Updated · AlterNet · Jun 12
Summary
CNN reported Gen. Dan Caine rushed from a NATO meeting in Brussels to CENTCOM in Tampa on May 19 for in-person briefings on sending U.S. ground troops into Iran to seize highly enriched uranium.
The briefings were described as urgent and highly sensitive, underscoring how close the Trump administration came last month to approving a major escalation beyond the air campaign it has favored since late February.
Donald Trump ultimately paused the option after warnings that a ground operation could trigger severe Iranian retaliation, prolong the war and deepen global economic disruption.
CNN also said Tehran has weighed an economic "nuclear option" if talks fail and fighting resumes: using the Houthis to close the Bab al-Mandab strait after months of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz.
A senior U.S. official, responding to CNN, pointed instead to negotiation terms including destruction and removal of Iran's nuclear material, dismantling its program, reopening Hormuz and ending support for proxy groups before sanctions relief.
Amidst ceasefire talks, why is the Pentagon planning a high-risk ground invasion of Iran's nuclear sites?
With IAEA monitoring blocked for years, how accurate is intelligence on Iran's true nuclear weapon capabilities?
With Hormuz closed, can the global economy withstand Iran's threat to shut the Bab al-Mandeb waterway too?
Countdown to Conflict: Trump’s 2026 Halt of U.S. Ground Operation to Seize Iran’s Uranium Stockpile
Overview
In late May 2026, after repeated diplomatic failures to resolve disputes over Iran’s uranium reserves and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Trump administration prepared for a risky military operation to seize Iran’s highly enriched uranium. Before launching, President Trump ordered a thorough review led by General Dan Caine. General Caine’s assessment warned of severe consequences, including likely Iranian retaliation and major risks to U.S. forces. These warnings convinced President Trump to halt the operation, highlighting the critical role of military analysis in averting a potentially devastating conflict.