Admiral Deniz Kutluk Warns: US Ground Attack on Iran Would Be a Disaster

As of today, July 17, 2026, military tensions between the United States and Iran have reached their peak following the collapse of recent agreements. Military experts are warning against any new adventures by Washington. Deniz Kutluk, a retired Admiral and prominent Turkish strategist, emphasized in an interview with CGTN Türk that the idea of a ground attack or amphibious landing on Iranian shores by the US military would be nothing short of a "fiasco" or a humiliating failure [1].

Strategic Deadlock in the Persian Gulf After months of conflict under the title "Operation Epic Fury," which began in February 2026, it has now become clear that massive US air and missile strikes have failed to completely eliminate Iran's retaliatory capabilities. Kutluk believes that although the US has damaged coastal infrastructure, including in Bandar Abbas and Bushehr, Iran's mobile defense systems and underground tunnels remain a serious threat to the US naval fleet [2]. He notes that despite air superiority, the US military has been unable to establish "total air supremacy" over Iranian airspace, as Iranian missile launchers move quickly and disappear from sight [4].

Why Troop Deployment is Impossible In his technical analysis, Admiral Kutluk points to several key factors. First is the harsh and defensible geography of the Iranian coast, which makes any amphibious operation a nightmare for invading forces. Second is Iran's asymmetric warfare doctrine, which utilizes a multitude of suicide drones, fast boats, and advanced naval mines to inflict heavy casualties on aircraft carriers and transport vessels before US forces even reach the shore [3]. According to him, even if US forces managed to establish a foothold at a coastal point, maintaining supply lines against missile attacks from deep within Iranian territory would be practically impossible.

Washington's Economic and Logistical Vulnerabilities Recent reports show that US strategic oil reserves have reached their lowest levels in decades [1]. Kutluk emphasizes that Washington is currently in a position of strategic weakness. A potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran in response to a ground attack would drive oil prices to unprecedented levels that the global economy, and particularly America's Western allies, cannot withstand. He noted that the Trump administration is currently facing a multi-layered deadlock: it can neither achieve a decisive military victory nor find a way for an honorable exit from this crisis without granting concessions to Tehran [1][4].

Turkey's Role and Regional Security As a former military official in Turkey, Kutluk believes that Ankara must maintain its distance from this conflict. He warns that any expansion of the war into a ground phase would send a massive wave of refugees toward Turkey's borders and destroy the stability of the entire region for decades. In his view, the only remaining solution is a return to the negotiating table in Islamabad or a new diplomatic initiative, as the military option for the US on Iranian soil has reached a dead end.