Axios‘s Barak Ravid and Mark Caputo reported Monday that U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine advised President Donald Trump to exercise caution regarding a military strike on Iran. The general has remained Trump’s most trusted adviser on military matters. While he had pushed for the Venezuela strike, Caine nevertheless expressed reservations that a military campaign could entangle the United States in a prolonged conflict that might endanger American lives, although no one has suggested boots on the ground.

The pendulum has swung back and forth as the president, buffeted by pressure from both sides, has alternated between attempting diplomacy and threatening strikes. Among those urging caution are Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and Middle East adviser Jared Kushner, who have told Trump that every day of delay serves to strengthen his hand.

Vice President J.D. Vance has also advised caution. While not outright opposed to a strike, he has expressed concerns about the risks and complexity of military entanglement with Iran. While hoping for the best possible outcome of the negotiations to be held Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland, Vance has expressed skepticism that they will yield a positive result, a position he shares with other top U.S. officials, according to an unnamed source.

“He’s presenting information on both sides of the argument to help the president make an informed decision,” said another unnamed source familiar with the talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has kept a low profile on Iran, preferring to focus on Venezuela and Cuba, in a departure from his usual hawkishness on the authoritarian regime.

Outside of the administration, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has emerged as the most vocal advocate of a strike on Iran and complained to Axios on Saturday about the advisers to Trump who he believes are restraining him. He said that he told Trump in a phone call that he should ignore those advisers and move ahead with a military campaign against Iran. He has also expressed concern that the moment to strike will dissipate as time passes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also prefer a U.S. strike on Iran and is increasingly concerned that such an operation is growing less likely. After meeting with Trump, he told an unnamed source that he felt he had not swayed the president. “Is he still with us?” he reportedly asked.

Update: Trump issued a statement on Truth Social after this article posted denying that Caine had advised against a strike.

“Numerous stories from the Fake News Media have been circulating stating that General Daniel Caine, sometimes referred to as Razin, is against us going to War with Iran,” Trump wrote. He added that the story is “100% incorrect.”

He also wrote that “if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is [Caine’s] opinion that it will be something easily won” and that if the U.S. does strike Iran, “he will be leading the pack.”