Pentagon Prepares for Potential Weeks-Long Ground Operations in Iran

The Pentagon is reportedly planning for several weeks of limited ground operations in Iran, which may include targeted raids on strategic sites such as Kharg Island� and other coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz, according to sources cited by The Washington Post.
The operations under consideration are not intended to be a full-scale invasion but could involve both special forces and conventional troops. Such missions would expose U.S. personnel to Iranian missile strikes, drone attacks, ground fire, and improvised explosive devices, the report noted.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that planning does not equate to a presidential decision. “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the president has made a decision,” she stated.
The Pentagon has already deployed additional U.S. Marines to the Middle East as the conflict in Iran enters its fifth week, with further plans to send thousands of soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division. On March 27, CENTCOM confirmed the arrival of roughly 3,500 troops aboard the USS Tripoli, accompanied by transport and strike fighter aircraft, amphibious assault vehicles, and other tactical assets.
Sources told The Washington Post that officials have discussed potentially seizing Kharg Island—a key hub for Iran’s oil exports—and conducting raids along the Strait of Hormuz to neutralize weapons capable of threatening commercial and military shipping. Timelines for these operations are expected to range from several weeks to a couple of months, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is hosting diplomatic talks involving the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt, seeking to mediate between Washington and Tehran.
Iranian Response
Iran has reacted strongly to reports of potential U.S. operations. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, warned that while adversaries publicly signal willingness to negotiate, they are secretly planning ground attacks. “Our forces are ready to confront any U.S. presence on our soil and retaliate decisively against their regional allies,” Ghalibaf was quoted by Tasnim news agency.
Earlier, he suggested intelligence reports indicate attempts to occupy Iranian islands, noting any such actions would be met with targeted strikes on the infrastructure of regional countries assisting the operation.
Tasnim also cited military sources claiming Iran could open a new front at the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, linking Yemen and Djibouti, if U.S. military action targets Iranian territory. The report indicated that Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, may participate in operations to control the strategic maritime passage.