U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing a potential escalation in the conflict with Iran, including the possibility of a ground operation, according to officials involved in ongoing mediation efforts between the two countries.
An official from a country serving as an intermediary told The Times of Israel that Trump appears inclined toward ordering such an operation, reflecting a view within Washington that increased military pressure could compel Tehran to yield. The official said the administration believes Iran may capitulate under the strain of a direct U.S. intervention.
The same source indicated that U.S. officials privately acknowledge Iran is unlikely to accept the concessions outlined in Washington’s 15-point proposal. In response, thousands of American troops have reportedly been positioned in the region with the objective of seizing Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub, following directives attributed to Trump.
A second official from another mediating country offered a more cautious assessment, warning that even if U.S. forces were able to take the island in an initial phase, holding it would require a significantly larger deployment and an extended military presence. Such a scenario, the official said, would likely exceed the four-to-six week time frame that U.S. planners have publicly projected.
As of Saturday, the conflict had reached the four-week mark. U.S. officials, however, have continued to signal that operations remain ahead of schedule.
The School of War podcast did an insightful episode about using Marines in Iran.
Both mediating officials emphasized that Iran is unlikely to surrender regardless of whether a ground operation proceeds, maintaining that the Islamic Republic is not expected to accept terms it had already rejected prior to the outbreak of hostilities.
Earlier this week, Trump announced he would extend a deadline for Iran to accept the proposed framework, pushing it to Friday. He warned that failure to comply could result in strikes targeting Iranian power infrastructure.
Additional U.S. Marine deployments are expected in the region as the revised deadline approaches, underscoring the administration’s effort to combine diplomatic pressure with an expanded military posture.
The developments come amid continued indirect communications between Washington and Tehran, facilitated by third-party intermediaries including Pakistan. While Trump has struck an optimistic tone publicly about the prospects for negotiations, administration officials have continued to signal that military options remain under active consideration.
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