Photo: EPA
U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not rule out deploying American ground troops to Iran if the situation requires it, according to an interview with the New York Post.
“I don’t have shaky hands about ground troops. Every president says, ‘No ground troops.’ I don’t say that. I say they probably won’t be needed — but if they are necessary,” Trump said.
His remarks mark a notable shift from the rhetoric traditionally used by previous U.S. presidents, who often ruled out sending infantry during military operations in the Middle East.
On February 28, the United States launched a military campaign called Operation Epic Fury, a series of airstrikes against Iran aimed at eliminating the country’s military and political leadership. According to Trump, the operation exceeded expectations.
U.S. media reported that 49 senior Iranian officials were killed, including commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, intelligence leaders and other key figures within the ruling establishment. The operation, originally expected to last at least four weeks, was largely carried out in a single day.
Intelligence claims about Iran’s nuclear program
Trump said he made the final decision to strike after negotiations in Geneva collapsed. He cited intelligence suggesting Iran had secretly resumed nuclear development at a previously unknown site.
“We discovered them working at a completely different location to build nuclear weapons through uranium enrichment. So the time had come,” he said.
Uranium enrichment increases the concentration of uranium-235, which can be used both as reactor fuel and in nuclear weapons. Iran has long denied that its nuclear program has military purposes.
Possible retaliation and public reaction
When asked about the possibility of Iranian attacks against the United States, Trump responded bluntly:
“We’ll destroy them. Whatever happens — we’ll destroy them.”
However, public opinion in the United States appears divided. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted over the weekend found that:
- 27% of Americans support the strikes on Iran
- 43% oppose them
- 29% are undecided
Trump dismissed the importance of such polls, arguing that Americans ultimately support decisive action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Rising tensions across the Middle East
Earlier on February 28, Israel carried out a series of strikes in Iran, including explosions reported in Tehran. Targets linked to the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon were also hit.
In response, Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles toward Israel and struck a U.S. military base in Bahrain. Media outlets also reported explosions in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar, where American bases are located.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry urged citizens to avoid travel to Israel and reiterated its recommendation to leave Iran.
Senior U.S. military officials warned the conflict could escalate. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the war with Iran would not be “a one-night operation” and that the United States should expect greater losses.
Analysts say the conflict could also affect global energy markets, military alliances and other ongoing wars, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
