The Pentagon is quietly developing contingency plans for ground operations inside Iran that could last several weeks, according to a report by The Washington Post citing senior US officials. The report stated that could become a dangerous new phase of the war if President Donald Trump chooses to escalate, as thousands of American soldiers and Marines have arrived in West Asia.
The plans, which have been in development for some time, are said to focus on targeted raids rather than a full-scale invasion. They would involve a combination of Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops striking key Iranian sites, such as coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz or facilities like Kharg Island. Any such operation would require final authorisation from President Donald Trump, who has not yet signed off on the plans, the newspaper said.
However, such a operation will expose American troops to Iranian firepower. Despite Trump's claims of destroying Iran's military power, the regime continues to target Israel and Middle Eastern countries with missiles and drones.
The report comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, as the United States continues to amass significant military assets in the region. Thousands of American troops, including approximately 3,500 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Tripoli, have recently arrived in the CENTCOM area of operations. Additional reinforcements, including elements of the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division, have also been ordered to deploy.
In Tehran, Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has strongly criticised the reported US preparations. He accused Washington of secretly plotting a ground attack while publicly engaging in diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict. "Iran's armed forces are fully prepared to confront any land assault by American troops," Ghalibaf said, warning that any attempt at occupation would be met with a "ruthless" response.
The speaker's remarks echo earlier statements in which he called for US forces to leave the region entirely, arguing that security in the Middle East should be handled by regional countries without American involvement.
White House officials have described the Pentagon's work as routine planning to provide the president with options, rather than an indication of imminent action. However, the deployment of additional ground forces has raised concerns about a possible dangerous new phase in the ongoing US-Iran confrontation.