Former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Iran conflict: ‘I worry about this getting drawn out’
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
Former Joint Chiefs Chair warns a U.S. conflict in Iran could become prolonged and challenging.
How This Affects You
A drawn-out conflict could increase defense spending, potentially impacting your taxes or federal program funding.
AI Summary
Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Mike Mullen stated Sunday his concern regarding a protracted U.S. conflict in Iran, following the deaths of seven U.S. service members. Mullen highlighted the dependency of the global economy on the region and the presence of allies as key factors. He emphasized the potential for the conflict to "get drawn out," posing significant challenges. This assessment from a former top military official underscores the strategic implications of ongoing U.S. military engagement in the Middle East.
What's Being Done
Still monitoring this story for developments.
Source Coverage Map
2 of 43 tracked sources covered this story
Following this story?
Get notified when new coverage appears
Other Sources Covering This Story
2 sourcesMultiple outlets have reported on this story. Compare perspectives from different sources.
This article is part of a story we're tracking:
Should this be getting more attention?
You Might Have Missed
Related stories from different sources and perspectives
PoliticsPete Hegseth attacks media for not being positive enough about US attacks on Iran
<p>US defense head is eager to frame operation as a success – and slam journalists for not portraying it in a positive light</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&utm_campaign=BN22326&utm_content=signup&utm_term=standfirst&utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a> on Friday again claimed the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-military">US military</a> campaign against <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran">Iran</a> has been an unprecedented success, using a Pentagon press conference to accuse journalists of downplaying Washington’s supposed gains on the battlefield.</p><p>Speaking alongside the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, the US defens...
PoliticsDemocrats vow to shut down Senate over Iran conflict
A group of Senate Democrats are threatening to use every procedural tool at their disposal to hold up business on the Senate floor unless Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and other senior officials testify before key committees under oath on the military conflict with Iran. “We have collectively agreed that…
PoliticsTrump once bragged about low gas prices. The Iran conflict has him doing an about-face - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxOakY4Tm80Ry1wdTczQlBkUmtPYkR3cUQ3UVVDZWdadVJMVU1tZDZRMlVEYlFEY3pEdWNQajRYM3N0N0dWc2xObHNQaTVVUWVhcTA2VmJFNVk1YzlEeXR4ZTA1MXY1dnNkOTVtc1ZjYWJ4SmR4cVRlMmZwSWxPQXplRWlCRnktLVNj?oc=5" target="_blank">Trump once bragged about low gas prices. The Iran conflict has him doing an about-face</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>
GlobalA world at war: The Iran conflict goes global
<p>Ten days into President Trump's <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran</a> campaign, the war has gone global.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/iran-war-countries-gulf-qatar-us" target="_blank">At least 20 countries</a> are now militarily involved — shooting, shielding or quietly supplying — while a widening energy shock punishes nations far from the front lines.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>This isn't World War III. But it may be the closest we've come in decades — drawing in more countries, more great powers and more overlapping conflicts than any crisis since the Cold War.</p><hr><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>Iran has <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-expanding-israel-lebanon-gulf-cyprus" target="_blank">struck at least 10 countries</a> since the war began, hitting U.S. and Israeli bases, Persian Gulf capitals, oil infrastructure and civilian areas in an attempt to impose maximum pain on Washington and...
GlobalQatar PM urges de‑escalation amid Iran conflict, Sky News says - Reuters
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivgFBVV95cUxOd1kwcWNYLWp1RmhGQmRVVlNRbXdQd2d0NFF0M1RDU3d4NDYyUkZkbFVMcDI0YjY4SElQSXN1cUZFSE1XN3loSzNrd2dLZkNITUFKb2JFM0tvelZIQmpNMGJNc1A2Uk41UkhqcGpCYkJsZFFPUzJUWjhyRlhQVXJrd3JNdzRtV3BJNTRrdW5oaHV6dzdwdUFocUhxMERBRDdvcHJpZkk3SFRTcmlubFRjbmZtTHNBM3ktTWxhd3p3?oc=5" target="_blank">Qatar PM urges de‑escalation amid Iran conflict, Sky News says</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>
Government TransparencyFCC chair threatens networks' licenses as Trump criticizes Iran war coverage
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr did not name specific networks, but his post included a reference to a Saturday morning Truth Social post from the president.

Trump says US destroyed every military target on Iran’s Kharg Island, threatens oil infrastructure if tankers blocked
President Trump said on Friday that the U.S. military conducted one of the most “powerful” bombing raids and totally “obliterated” every military target on Iran’s Kharg Island, one of the country’s most vital economic outposts. The president said that for “reasons of decency,” the U.S. military did not wipe out the oil infrastructure on the…
Did this story change how you see things?
Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.
The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.
See our sourcesMost Read This Week
‘No popular support’: China warns against government change in Iran

Whitmer's office calls for probe into why weather service didn't issue tornado watch - The Detroit News

Defense official reveals how AI chatbots could be used for targeting decisions

Rubio designates Afghanistan as ‘state sponsor of wrongful detention’

Senate Democrat calls for investigation into Texas drone incidents




