On the 30th day of the conflict in the Middle East, there are currently speculations about the potential deployment of American troops on Iranian territory. In this context, Iran accuses the United States of secretly preparing a ground offensive.
It’s a lingering question since the beginning of the conflict in Iran: will the American army eventually set foot in Iran? The hypothesis has gained weight in recent days, as Donald Trump said on Sunday, March 29 that the Kharg rules, a strategic oil site for Tehran, can be “very easily” taken by the United States.
Beyond the statements of the American president, the US contingent has significantly strengthened in the region in recent weeks. This weekend, the American amphibious assault ship Tripoli arrived in the Middle East with “around 3,500” sailors and Marines on board. Another group of Marines is currently en route and will be there in the coming days.
According to Axios and the Wall Street Journal, the American administration is also considering sending an additional 10,000 troops to reinforce the troops in the region, to deliver “the final blow” to this war.
“The United States is increasing the pressure. They are sending reinforcements to strengthen their capabilities, as things are not going as planned,” analyzes General Jérôme Pellistrandi, a defense consultant for BFMTV. “The American command is giving itself additional options while waiting to see the evolution, especially of the discussions,” he adds.
Instead of a massive invasion of Iran, which would be costly financially, humanely, and politically for Donald Trump, the United States would prioritize targeted raids. These would be led in coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz by members of special forces and other soldiers, reports the Washington Post. They would aim to locate and destroy weapons capable of targeting commercial and military navigation. Other sensitive points mentioned include Abu Musa and the Tounbs rules, where Iran has advanced positions equipped with missiles and drones.
The envisaged objectives should be achieved in “weeks, not months,” according to a source in the American newspaper. “Very complex operations,” warns General Jérôme Pellistrandi. “A special forces operation must be brutal, fast, and effective. It requires extremely precise intelligence,” explains the BFMTV defense consultant.
Furthermore, the Pentagon reportedly presented Donald Trump with an option to penetrate deep into Iranian territory. The goal? To recover approximately 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, which Tehran allegedly keeps in underground nuclear facilities.
For now, Donald Trump has not yet given his approval for such an intervention, which would be risky and dangerous for American forces, especially as 13 soldiers have died since the beginning of the conflict.
The United States would need to transport troops under enemy fire, but also secure their presence while carrying out the search and evacuation operations for the nuclear material, which would take several days.
According to experts cited by the Washington Post, this raid would also require the sending of earthmoving equipment and containers to transport the highly enriched uranium. “This could fill several trucks,” explains Richard Nephew, a senior researcher at Columbia University and former nuclear negotiator with Iran, quoted by the American media.
Finally, it would be necessary to consider creating a makeshift airstrip to transport the material and evacuate the nuclear fuel. “This is not a quick operation,” warns retired General Joseph Votel, former commander of the United States Central Command and the US Special Operations Command.
Despite the military deployment, Washington continues to display diplomatic openness. If Donald Trump has expressed his willingness to negotiate an end to the conflict, the White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, warned on Tuesday that if the Tehran regime does not give up its nuclear ambitions and cease its threats against the United States and its allies, the president is “ready to unleash hell” against them.
From the Iranian perspective, these statements fuel distrust. The president of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the United States on Sunday, March 29 of preparing a ground offensive while publicly continuing diplomatic efforts to end the war.
Such a ground operation carries “considerable risks,” according to Michael Eisenstadt, director of the Military and Security Studies Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, speaking in the Washington Post. He believes it would be wiser for American forces to mine the rule and use it as a means of pressure to compel Iran to demine the Strait of Hormuz.
