In a significant escalation of rhetoric, U.S. President Donald Trump has declined to exclude the possibility of deploying American ground forces to Iran during an interview with the New York Post on Monday. This statement marks a stark departure from previous presidential approaches to military engagements.
Trump explicitly contrasted his position with predecessors who typically preemptively ruled out boots-on-ground scenarios. ‘I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground—like every president says, ‘There will be no boots on the ground,’ I don’t say it,’ Trump stated, adding that he would authorize such deployment ‘if they were necessary.’
The comments come amid ongoing military operations that began Saturday morning, which Trump characterized as ‘way ahead of schedule’ in targeting senior Iranian officials. The President projected the conflict would conclude within four to five weeks during separate remarks to The New York Times.
Domestically, the military action faces substantial public skepticism. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted over the weekend revealed only 27% of Americans approve of the strikes, while 43% disapprove and 29% remain uncertain. Trump dismissed these findings, asserting ‘I don’t care about polling.’
Meanwhile, Iranian officials signaled preparation for prolonged hostilities. Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, declared on social media platform X that ‘Iran, unlike the United States, has prepared itself for a long war.’ Larijani emphasized Iran’s defensive posture throughout the conflict and vowed to ‘fiercely defend ourselves and our six thousand years old civilization regardless of the costs.’
The geopolitical tensions unfold against the backdrop of national mourning in Iran following the recent death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, adding complexity to an already volatile situation.