Trump Does Not Rule Out Ground Operations in Iran

As military tensions between Washington and Tehran reached their highest level in 2026, Donald Trump delivered sharp messages in his latest remarks. In an interview broadcast on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, he explicitly stated that the option of a ground operation against Iran remains on the table [1]. These comments come as the Middle East stands on the brink of a major explosion after months of aerial and naval engagements.

Trump's Green Light for Ground Operations Responding to a direct question from a Fox News reporter about the possibility of sending infantry into Iranian territory, Trump said: "I don't want to say no, but sometimes you need a ground operation." However, he immediately added that American soldiers would not necessarily be the vanguard of such an attack. He noted: "We have other forces that can do the ground operation for us" [2]. Military analysts believe these remarks refer to using regional allies or proxy groups to reduce direct US military casualties in a war of attrition.

Threat to Destroy Critical Infrastructure The US President sharply criticized what he called "Tehran's bad faith in negotiations," warning that airstrikes would enter a devastating phase starting next week. Trump said: "We're going to hit them very hard tonight and tomorrow night. But next week it gets really bad for them because it's the turn of the power plants and the bridges" [3]. He emphasized that the goal of these attacks is to paralyze Iran's economic and logistical capabilities to force Tehran officials to accept a new agreement. He also confirmed that Kharg Island, as the main artery of Iran's oil exports, has been targeted several times before, but he ordered to refrain from the complete destruction of oil facilities for now to avoid shocking global energy markets [2][5].

Naval Blockade and the Strait of Hormuz Crisis Another part of Trump's strategy involves restoring a full naval blockade of Iranian ports. He announced that the United States had considered a plan to charge a 20% fee for commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but now prefers that Gulf countries provide the cost of regional security through massive investments in America [4]. Trump claimed that Iran's military power has been severely weakened: "They still have a little bit of fight left, but they don't have much left" [3].

Diplomatic Deadlock and Military Risks Despite Trump's claim that US negotiators were in contact with Iranian parties until an hour before the interview, he emphasized that he is no longer interested in negotiating unless Tehran surrenders completely [3]. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has reported that US Marine units in the region are on full alert, although experts warn that any attempt to enter Iranian shores by land will face fierce resistance and extensive mining, which could carry a heavy cost for Washington [1].