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Trump has repeatedly made clear that the ultimate objective of the operation is straightforward and uncompromising. The president wants Iran’s nuclear ambitions completely dismantled.
While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump highlighted the effectiveness of the ongoing air campaign but left open the possibility that the mission could eventually expand beyond air and missile strikes.
“I would say if we ever did that, they would be so decimated that they wouldn’t be able to fight at the ground level,” he said.
The president suggested that the devastating aerial assault already underway could leave Iran in such a weakened state that a ground operation would face minimal resistance if one were ever ordered.
“We’ll find out about that…. And at some point maybe we will. It would be a great thing but right now we’re just decimating them but we haven’t gone after it,” the president added.
Trump also addressed rumors circulating in recent days suggesting Kurdish forces might be used as part of a ground offensive in Iran’s northwest region, which has a large Kurdish population and sits near the borders of Iraq and Turkey.
Those reports sparked speculation about whether Kurdish fighters could serve as local partners in a broader campaign aimed at destabilizing the Iranian regime from within.
But Trump quickly shut down that idea.
“I have ruled that out. I don’t want the Kurds going in. I don’t want to see the Kurds get hurt and killed,” Trump told reporters when asked about the rumors.
The president’s comments appear designed to avoid pulling Kurdish groups into a potentially devastating regional conflict, especially given their complicated political and military relationships across the Middle East.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed that message during an appearance on Fox News Sunday.
Leavitt emphasized that deploying American ground troops is not currently part of the administration’s active plan but stressed that the president is keeping every military option available if the situation changes.
“They’re not part of the plan for this operation at this time,” Leavitt said on the possibility of ground troops.
“But I certainly will never take away military options on behalf of the president,” she added, emphasizing that the possibility remains “on the table.”
Behind the scenes, discussions among American and Israeli officials are reportedly exploring other potential military options as the conflict evolves.
According to a report from Axios, officials from both countries have considered the possibility of sending special operations forces into Iran at a later stage of the campaign. The mission would focus on securing or disabling Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium, preventing them from falling into the wrong hands or being used to restart the country’s nuclear program.
Sources familiar with the discussions told the outlet that such an operation would likely take place only after Iran’s military defenses have been severely weakened.
The plan could also involve inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to verify the removal or destruction of nuclear materials.
For now, the air campaign remains the centerpiece of the military strategy. But Trump’s comments make one thing clear.
If the situation escalates further, the possibility of American boots on the ground has not been ruled out.
