General’s sudden move shows US came close to 'massive escalation' in Iran

Although the United States has been at war with Iran since late February, U.S. President Donald Trump has so far favored airstrikes and avoided a ground war. But early Friday afternoon, CNN's Zachary Cohen reported that Gen.

Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had " made a secret, rushed visit to U.S. Central Command headquarters in Florida" in late May "to be briefed in person on plans for the military to send ground troops into Iran to forcibly seize its highly enriched uranium." On X, Cohen reported that according to CNN sources, "Trump hit pause after being warned it would likely prompt severe Iranian retaliation, extending the war and plunging the global economy into further turmoil, the sources said.

But the high-level and pressing nature of the briefings underscores ho...