The Washington Post, citing U.S. officials, reported that the U.S. Department of Defense is preparing for weeks of potential ground operations in Iran as part of military options under consideration to strengthen the American presence in the Middle East.
The newspaper said it remains unclear whether President Donald Trump will approve all, some, or none of the Pentagon’s plans.
According to officials, any potential ground operation “would not amount to a full-scale invasion” and may be limited to joint raids carried out by special operations forces alongside infantry units.
They added that discussions within the U.S. administration over the past month have included the possibility of seizing Kharg Island, as well as conducting strikes on coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz.
In this context, the newspaper quoted a White House spokesperson as saying that the Pentagon must “make preparations and provide the president with the maximum number of options,” stressing that such preparations “do not mean that the president has made a decision.”
One official indicated that achieving the objectives under consideration “may take weeks, not months.”
The Washington Post also reported, citing a U.S. official, that the potential duration of the ground operation under study could extend to around two months.
The newspaper added that internal discussions have also considered the option of destroying Iranian weapons platforms near the Strait of Hormuz.
The report coincided with the U.S. military’s announcement that the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli arrived in the Middle East on Saturday, reinforcing its presence in the region.
The helicopter carrier leads a group of about 3,500 sailors and Marines, according to U.S. Central Command.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the United States could achieve its war objectives within “the next two weeks” without deploying ground forces.
Despite this, Trump continues to maintain an ambiguous position on the matter.
Several U.S. media outlets have reported in recent days that the president is considering sending at least 10,000 troops to the Middle East in the near future.
