US tells allies not to invade Iran immediately
The Trump administration is conveying to allies that it has no immediate intentions for a ground invasion of Iran, despite the deployment of thousands of troops to West Asia, according to sources. Individuals warned that President Donald Trump might alter his decision at any time or proceed with an attack. The troops were described as capable of fulfilling multiple roles, including assisting with the evacuation of American citizens, while also fostering a sense of strategic ambiguity regarding US intentions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Friday that the US can accomplish its goals in Iran without deploying ground troops, but their presence provides Trump with additional options. “The president has to be prepared for multiple contingencies, which I’m not going to discuss in the media,” Rubio stated. “We can achieve all of our objectives without ground troops. But we are always going to be prepared to give the president maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust to contingencies should they emerge.”
A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to share internal perspectives, stated that it is the responsibility of the Pentagon to formulate plans that provide the president with various options. The official also highlighted that Trump has previously indicated he has no intentions of deploying ground troops at this moment. The official stated, “Iran will be hit harder than ever before if they fail to make a deal.” In recent days, the Defence Department has deployed two Marine Expeditionary Units, totaling approximately 5,000 troops, to West Asia. The first of those two is scheduled to arrive on Saturday, while the second will require additional time to reach its destination. The department has also mandated the deployment of approximately 2,000 soldiers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. Those movements have led to speculation that Trump is preparing for a ground attack. Possible scenarios encompass the capture of Iran’s pivotal oil export hub at Kharg Island, the seizure of Iranian nuclear material, or the occupation of the coastline adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz.
The US would require additional troops for more extensive operations, and the extended duration of these would surpass the four- to six-week timeframe that Trump established for the war. At the onset of the 2003 war, over 150,000 US troops entered Iraq, contributing to a coalition that was approximately double that number. On Thursday, Trump extended his deadline for Iran to consent to reopening the Strait of Hormuz or confront attacks on its power infrastructure, alleviating current speculation that the US was gearing up to intensify a campaign that commenced with US and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. On Friday, Rubio engaged with representatives from the Group of Seven in France, seeking to garner additional support from European allies for the security of Hormuz. He informed his counterparts that the war would conclude in weeks, not months, according to one of the individuals present.
When asked on Thursday whether the strait could be opened without deploying ground troops, Rubio stated he wouldn’t “speculate on what it will take.” The Trump administration has previously indicated to Iran and its allies that it would pursue one course of action, only to later take a different approach. In 2025, Trump ordered strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, despite both parties pledging to maintain negotiations and Trump’s persistent assertion that Iran was eager to reach an agreement. The US and Israel initiated the latest series of strikes despite the parties reaching an agreement for another round of discussions regarding the country’s nuclear program.
