United States President Donald Trump has declined to rule out the deployment of American ground troops to Iran, warning that a larger and more forceful phase of military action is imminent. Speaking at the White House, Trump stated that the most significant strikes were yet to occur, declaring that “the big one is coming soon.”
Although the current campaign has centred on aerial bombardments, missiles and coordinated strikes alongside Israeli forces, the president made clear that options remain open. He remarked that unlike previous administrations, he would not categorically dismiss the possibility of boots on the ground if deemed necessary.
The remarks come amid growing debate in Washington over the scope of presidential war powers, with the United States Congress expected to scrutinise the legal authority underpinning the expanding military campaign. Trump has previously framed the operation as a preemptive effort to neutralise what he describes as Iran’s nuclear and missile ambitions.
According to official briefings, US and Israeli forces have targeted hundreds of sites across Iran, including naval assets and command infrastructure. The Pentagon has confirmed the deaths of four US service members and acknowledged that three fighter jets were lost, reportedly due to friendly fire incidents.
Iran has responded with missile attacks directed at Israel and several US installations across the region, including in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Trump characterised the regional breadth of the retaliation as unexpected but maintained that US forces had achieved localised air superiority.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the president’s position, stating that the duration and scope of the conflict remain fluid. He emphasised that the operation is not intended as a nation building exercise, distancing it from past engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan, and insisting that the objective is limited to decisive military outcomes rather than prolonged occupation.
