The U.S. administration is reportedly preparing to broaden its military options in the ongoing campaign against Iran.
According to Reuters, citing U.S. officials, the administration of President Donald Trump is considering deploying thousands of American troops to reinforce operations in the Middle East. The move comes as the U.S. military prepares for potential next steps in its campaign targeting Iran.
Such a deployment could provide President Trump with additional options as he weighs expanding U.S. involvement, with the conflict now entering its third week.
Sources say these options include securing safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a mission that would primarily rely on air and naval forces. However, controlling the strategic waterway could also entail deploying U.S. troops along Iran’s coastline.
According to the sources, the Trump administration has also discussed plans to send ground forces to Iran’s Kharg Island, which accounts for roughly 90% of the country’s oil exports. One official noted that such an operation would be highly risky, as Iran could target the island with missiles and drones.
The United States carried out airstrikes on military targets on Kharg Island on March 13, and President Trump has warned of potential attacks on Iran’s critical oil infrastructure. However, given the island’s vital role in Iran’s economy, seizing control of Kharg may be seen as a more strategic option than destroying it.
Any scenario involving the deployment of U.S. ground forces—even for limited missions—could carry significant political risks for President Trump. Public support in the United States for the Iran campaign remains low, and Trump previously pledged to avoid entangling the country in new Middle East conflicts.
One source revealed that administration officials have also discussed the possibility of deploying forces to secure Iran’s stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. However, sources emphasized that such a ground deployment is not believed to be imminent. Experts say securing Iran’s nuclear materials would be extremely complex and risky, even for U.S. special operations forces.
“There has been no decision to deploy ground troops at this time, but President Trump is wise to keep all options on the table,” a White House official said. “The President remains focused on achieving all objectives of Operation Epic Fury: dismantling Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, neutralizing its naval forces, ensuring its proxy groups cannot destabilize the region, and preventing Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons.”
These discussions come as U.S. forces continue to strike Iran’s naval assets, missile and drone stockpiles, and defense industry.
According to a March 18 update from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees roughly 50,000 American troops in the Middle East, the U.S. has conducted more than 7,800 strikes since launching the campaign on February 28, damaging or destroying over 120 Iranian vessels.
President Trump has indicated that his objectives go beyond weakening Iran’s military capabilities, extending to securing maritime routes and preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
While deploying ground forces could expand the administration’s options to achieve these goals, it would also introduce substantial risks. Even without direct ground combat inside Iran, 13 U.S. service members have been killed and around 200 injured in the conflict so far, most with minor injuries.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported on March 18 that the Pentagon has requested White House approval for a proposal exceeding $200 billion to be submitted to Congress to fund the war in Iran.
The plan aims to urgently boost production of key weapons that have been heavily depleted as U.S. and Israeli forces have struck thousands of targets over the past three weeks.
