Trump Floats U.S. Ground Troops in Iran, Media Says

(MENAFN) U.S. President Donald Trump has privately floated the idea of deploying American ground forces into Iran, media reported Friday, drawing on accounts from multiple sources familiar with the matter.

According to the report, Trump has raised the possibility in conversations with aides and Republican officials outside the White House, framing the concept around a limited troop presence tasked with specific strategic objectives — not a full-scale military invasion.

The report was sourced to two individuals: a former U.S. official and a separate person with direct knowledge of the internal discussions. No final decision has been reached.

Beyond troop deployment, Trump has also sketched out a broader vision for Iran in the aftermath of conflict — one in which Tehran's uranium stockpiles would be placed under secure control and a reconstituted Iranian government would align with Washington on oil output, modelled loosely on the existing arrangement with Venezuela that allows the U.S. to benefit from its petroleum production, sources told media.

The White House moved swiftly to distance itself from the report. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement: "This story is based on assumptions from anonymous sources who are not part of the President's national security team and are clearly not read into these discussions."

Leavitt added: "President Trump always wisely keeps all options open, but anyone trying to insinuate he is in favor of one option or another proves they have no real seat at the table."

Trump himself stopped short of ruling out a ground presence when speaking to the New York Post earlier this week, saying: "I say 'probably don't need them,' (or) 'if they were necessary.'"

On the military front, U.S. Central Command disclosed Friday via a post on X that American forces have struck more than 3,000 targets inside Iran since operations commenced on Feb. 28, with 43 Iranian naval vessels damaged or destroyed in the process.

The campaign was set in motion when the United States and Israel launched coordinated large-scale strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior military commanders, and hundreds of civilians. Iran has since mounted successive retaliatory waves of missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory and U.S. assets across the broader region.

Amid the escalating confrontation, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi told media on Thursday that Tehran is neither seeking a ceasefire nor sees any basis for entering negotiations with Washington.

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