WASHINGTON — President Trump said the US is “nowhere near a decision” to deploy ground forces to Iran to seize control of the nuclear facility in Isfahan, as hostilities with Tehran continue to escalate. In an interview with the New York Post on March 9, 2026, President Trump said the administration has not yet made a decision on sending US troops to the underground uranium enrichment facility near the city of Isfahan. “I haven’t made any decision on that. We’re nowhere near that,” President Trump said. The remarks come as various reports from news outlets like NBC News, Axios, and Semafor indicated that options for deploying US forces to Iran have been discussed internally within the administration. President Trump also mentioned Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who recently succeeded his father after Ali Khamenei was killed in attacks at the beginning of the war. He stated he was “not happy” with Mojtaba Khamenei taking power but refused to reveal US plans regarding the new leader in Tehran. “I’m not saying. I’m not happy with him,” President Trump said. Previously, President Trump warned that Iran’s new leader “is unlikely to last long” without US approval, demonstrating Washington's hardline stance in the ongoing conflict. Mojtaba Khamenei becoming Iran’s Supreme Leader marks the first time power in Tehran has been transferred through a hereditary model since the 1979 revolution. The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran continues to escalate following strikes targeting military facilities, energy infrastructure, and Tehran's missile program.

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