President Donald Trump said sending U.S. ground troops into Iran is not currently being considered, arguing that such a move would be unnecessary during the ongoing military campaign.
In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump dismissed the idea of a ground invasion, saying Iran’s military capabilities have already been severely weakened by U.S. and Israeli strikes. “It’s a waste of time.
They’ve lost everything. They’ve lost their navy. They’ve lost everything they can lose,” he said.
The comments came as the conflict between Iran and the U.S.–Israel alliance continues to escalate, with ongoing air and naval strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
Officials say the campaign is focused primarily on destroying Iran’s missile systems, naval assets and other strategic facilities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier warned that Tehran was prepared to confront any ground invasion by U.S. or Israeli forces. Trump dismissed the warning, calling it a “wasted comment.”
Despite ruling out ground troops for now, Trump has indicated the broader goal of the campaign is to reshape Iran’s leadership.
He has said the current leadership structure should be removed and suggested he wants a new leader who would not rebuild the country’s military capabilities.
The fighting has continued across the region, with heavy airstrikes reported in Tehran and other Iranian cities as both sides exchange missile and drone attacks.
