Washington, February 26 (NationPress) The leader of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, has been discreetly formulating military strategies for a potential strike on Iran while simultaneously trying to steer clear of direct conflicts with President Donald Trump, as reported by various US media outlets.

In his capacity as chairman, Gen. Caine has been actively “developing military strategies for possible actions against Iran,” with a continuous influx of senior officials from the Army, Navy, and Air Force visiting his office, according to CNN.

During internal Pentagon discussions, Caine has expressed worries regarding the “magnitude, intricacies, and possible US casualties” if a significant military operation were enacted against Iran, as per the report.

Concurrently, he has been overseeing the “construction of the largest array of US military assets gathered in the Middle East since the Iraq invasion,” CNN noted.

This balancing act unfolds as the United States and Iran gear up for renewed nuclear talks in Geneva. Tehran is anticipated to unveil a new proposal concerning enrichment, even as Washington continues to increase its military presence in the region, as highlighted by The Washington Post.

“I don’t believe a definitive decision has been reached yet,” stated Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) after receiving updates on the situation.

President Trump has consistently claimed that previous US attacks have “decimated” Iran’s nuclear program, though international authorities have raised doubts about the actual damage incurred, according to the Post.

On the military front, the Wall Street Journal reported that the US has dispatched F-22 fighter jets to Israel for the first time for a potential combat operation. This deployment signifies an enhanced level of US-Israeli military collaboration amidst escalating tensions with Tehran.

The introduction of F-22s will enable the US to safeguard Israeli territory and American forces stationed in the Middle East from potential Iranian counterattacks, the Journal indicated.

In parallel, lawmakers are also addressing human rights issues within Iran. Senators Dave McCormick and Jacky Rosen have proposed the Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026, aimed at broadening internet access and tightening sanctions against human rights offenders.

“The Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026 reinforces America’s commitment to support the Iranian populace against a regime that is economically, militarily, and morally bankrupt,” remarked Senator McCormick.

Senator Rosen added, “The citizens of Iran have been compelled to endure a repressive regime that has employed censorship and internet blackouts to undermine their efforts to resist.”