Trump may blame Pentagon chief if Iran operation fails

US President Donald Trump may blame Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine if a new military operation against Iran fails, according to The Atlantic citing sources. The operation is expected to begin after the US midterm elections. Sources close to Trump but not part of the administration said the president is considering who to hold responsible for the inability to end the war with Iran. Trump's advisers had incorrectly assured him before the conflict began in February that it would conclude well before the midterms. Hegseth is reportedly unpopular in the White House and gave overly optimistic assessments to please Trump, with one source saying he "knows how to tell the president what he wants to hear." Additionally, General Caine's staff appeared unaware of a recent decision to fire Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, initially issuing a thank-you statement before retracting it hours later.