President Trump leaves door open for ground military action in Iran

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has declined to rule out the possibility of deploying ground troops to Iran, saying he would not make the same categorical commitments as previous administrations.

In an interview with American media, Trump said he would not publicly declare that US ground forces would not be sent, as other presidents had done. “There is a chance we won’t need ground troops,” he said, adding, “But it is also possible that they may become necessary.”

Speaking later at the White House, Trump outlined Washington’s military objectives in Iran. He said the United States aims to dismantle Iran’s missile capabilities, destroy its naval assets, prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and stop it from supplying weapons, funding, and guidance to militant groups beyond its borders.

Trump argued that Iran’s missile program was designed to shield its nuclear ambitions. “The United States was the country that wanted to stop it, and everyone stood behind us,” he said, warning that an Iranian regime armed with nuclear weapons and long-range missiles would pose an intolerable threat to both the Middle East and the United States.

The US president stated that Washington had attempted negotiations with Iran, but repeated failures of diplomatic agreements ultimately led to military action. He described the decision to initiate the conflict as a “last and best opportunity” to neutralize what he called the unacceptable risks posed by Iran’s leadership.

Trump further claimed that 10 Iranian naval vessels had already been destroyed and that the country’s missile production capacity was being significantly weakened.

He added that US military operations were ahead of schedule. While the initial plan was projected to last four to five weeks, Trump said the United States has the capability to extend the campaign if necessary.

The president also defended his 2018 decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal negotiated during the administration of former President Barack Obama.

Trump described the agreement as a “horrible and extremely dangerous document,” asserting that Iran could have obtained nuclear weapons years ago had the deal remained in place. “I’m proud that we terminated the Iranian nuclear deal,” he said.