Varied points of view rise from Trump, an ally and Iran as Middle East tensions flare

President Donald Trump is struggling to present a unified message on Iran with one high-profile military official undercutting the basis for his administration's confrontational strategy and outside experts increasingly questioning the U.S. endgame.

As bombers recently deployed to the Middle East flew their first message-sending sorties, the president appeared to be caught between hard line advisers calling for more aggressive action against Tehran and others attempting to avoid an escalation.

In a remarkable break with the Trump administration, a British general who is the No. 2 officer in the U.S.-led...