Donald Trump on Sunday signalled that the United States could deploy ground troops in Iran if there was a “very good reason,” as the conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran continues to escalate.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump avoided directly confirming a ground invasion but left the possibility open. He said such a move would only be considered under exceptional circumstances and warned that Iranian forces were already being heavily weakened by ongoing strikes.
“I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t think it’s an appropriate question,” Trump said when asked about sending ground troops. “There could be a possibility for a very good reason. If we ever did that, they would be so decimated that they wouldn’t be able to fight at the ground level.”
The US president also dismissed the prospect of negotiations with Tehran, saying Washington was not currently seeking a settlement. According to Trump, Iran’s leadership structure has been severely disrupted by the ongoing military campaign.
His remarks come days after he declared that it was “too late” for talks and demanded unconditional surrender from Iran to end the US-Israeli offensive that began on February 28.
According to reports, a series of US and Israeli strikes have killed several senior Iranian officials, including military leaders and members of the country’s defence establishment. Among those reported dead are senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other top security officials.
Despite leaving the door open for possible ground operations, Trump said there had been no discussions about asking Kurdish forces to carry out an invasion on behalf of the United States.
Meanwhile, political uncertainty in Iran has deepened following the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Attention has turned to his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who is widely seen as a potential successor as Tehran moves toward naming a new supreme leader.
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