In a recent interview, President Donald Trump affirmed that he has not ruled out the possibility of deploying U.S. ground forces to Iran if the situation on the ground requires it. He stated that the campaign, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury," is making significant progress and is well ahead of the original schedule. This move comes after the U.S. military conducted strikes directly targeting Tehran's leadership apparatus.
President Trump emphasized that he is not making any rigid commitments to limit the use of ground troops, as his predecessors often did. While he hopes it will not be necessary, the U.S. is prepared to take all necessary military measures to protect national interests. Last Saturday's airstrikes hit strategic targets, resulting in many high-ranking Iranian commanders killed in Operation Epic Fury, as well as key Iranian political figures.
Progress of the Campaign and Iranian Leadership Losses
According to initial White House estimates, the war could have lasted about four weeks, but actual events are progressing faster than expected. The President stated that in just one day, the U.S. military eliminated 49 high-ranking Iranian leaders. This is an impressive result, as initial calculations suggested this task could have taken at least a month to complete.
The decision to attack was made after the final rounds of negotiations in Geneva last Thursday failed to produce the desired results. The reinforcement of U.S. forces in the Middle East as Iran left negotiations demonstrated the White House's decisive stance. U.S. intelligence discovered that Iran was secretly resuming activities at new sites to continue its uranium enrichment program. President Trump asserted that Tehran's nuclear facilities must be thoroughly halted to ensure regional security, especially as the country is accused of developing missiles that can reach U.S. territory.
"It's time to act. I said: Go. You can't let Iran have nuclear weapons," President Trump shared regarding his firm decision.
Public Reaction and White House Commitment
Regarding domestic reaction, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that approximately 27% of Americans support the airstrikes, while 43% oppose them. However, President Trump maintained that he believes he is doing the right thing and that there is a "silent majority" watching and supporting the government's actions. He emphasized that stopping the nuclear threat is the top priority, regardless of opinion poll results.
Addressing concerns that Iran might use terrorist acts to retaliate, President Trump affirmed that the U.S. has thoroughly prepared plans. Despite reports that 3 U.S. service members were killed in Operation Epic Fury, he declared that Washington would handle any arising situations and is not concerned by threats from Tehran. International observers are currently closely monitoring the possibility of the U.S. expanding the scope of the military campaign in the coming days.
