Trump won't rule out sending US troops into Iran 'if they were necessary'

President Trump stated he is not ruling out deploying U.S. ground troops in Iran if necessary, following recent airstrikes that killed numerous Iranian leaders. He noted Operation Epic Fury is “way ahead of schedule,” with casualties exceeding expectations.

“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 said. “I say ‘probably don’t need them,’ [or] ‘if they were necessary.'”

Trump predicted the conflict might last only “four weeks or so,” potentially even shorter. He expressed confidence in handling any terrorist retaliation from Iran.

The strikes were reportedly prompted by intelligence that Iran resumed nuclear efforts, despite intelligence officials stating the opposite. Despite low poll support, Trump insisted on the importance of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, stating, “You cannot let Iran... have a nuclear weapon.”