The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of boots on the ground operations in Iran, a major escalation in President Trump’s goal to dismantle the remaining faction of the murderous Iranian regime, according to a report.
Thousands of US Marines would be sent to the Middle East to conduct raids that include Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops, the Washington Post reported, citing sources.
Officials have been discussing plans for sending troops into Iran for weeks.
American military operations entered their second month on Saturday, following the US-Israel joint attacks on Iranian military facilities and officials on Feb. 28, which saw the elimination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and approximately 40 senior leaders.
Trump has not publicly acknowledged the Pentagon’s proposal or whether he would approve any portion of the plans.
“It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the President has made a decision,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Washington Post.
The troop movement would fall short of a full-scale invasion, but could still put US military servicemembers in danger of Iranian military weapons.
Roughly 10,000 American troops were being considered for deployment to the Middle East last week, to boost the already significant military presence in the Gulf region, giving Trump additional military options.
The potential reinforcement would add to the nearly 5,000 Marines and sailors and roughly 2,000 members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division already deployed.
The 82nd Airborne Division, a premier rapid-response unit, is frequently placed on high alert due to its ability to deploy quickly to global hotspots, making it a key asset in emerging conflicts.
It was not clear where the troops would land as joint airstrikes have targeted both the capital of Tehran and other military infrastructure closer to the gulf, including Kharg Island.
American presence on Kharg Island – Iran’s primary oil export hub – would stop the regime from making money on oil production while also stopping Tehran from targeting the critical infrastructure, Former Pentagon official and Atlantic Council fellow Alex Plitsas said.
“It’s like taking a chess piece off Iran’s board and putting another bargaining chip in your pocket,” he said.
Trump warned Islamic Republic officials on Thursday to “get serious soon” about negotiating an end to the war “before it’s too late.”
“The Iranian negotiators are very different and ‘strange,’” the president posted on Truth Social. “They are ‘begging’ us to make a deal, which they should be doing since they have been militarily obliterated, with zero chance of a comeback, and yet they publicly state that they are only ‘looking at our proposal.’ WRONG!!!
“They better get serious soon, before it is too late,” Trump added, “because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won’t be pretty!”
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