Donald Trump Says U.S. Sees No Need for Ground Operation Inside Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States currently sees no need to deploy ground forces inside Iran, arguing that a months-long airstrike campaign has already destroyed a significant portion of Iran’s military infrastructure.

“World Trump does not see the need for a ground operation in Iran First News Media15:55 - 03 / 06 / 2026”

1News.az

In an interview with Pod Force One, Trump said, “We don't need boots on the ground now. Well, we did it. You know, we wiped out much of their military with just bombing.”

1News.az

Caliber.Az reported that Trump added that sending soldiers on the ground is not being considered as long as it can be avoided, citing the distance and the results of air operations.

A separate report in 1News.az also quoted Trump saying, “We don't need a ground operation now. We did it, we destroyed most of their armed forces with bombings,” framing the statement as reflecting U.S. authorities’ current view that troops are not needed inside Iran.

While Trump said ground forces are not being considered, El Mundo America reported that the United States is reducing its naval presence around Iran and that the amphibious assault ship 'Boxer' departed Singapore with about 2,000 Marines aboard, shifting operations away from Iran toward the Pacific.

El Mundo America said the 'Boxer' carries from 5 to 25 aircraft, including radar-invisible F-35 fighter bombers, and described the U.S. approach as rendering ships trying to break the blockade useless and attacking fast boats laying mines in the region and missile bases on land.

Al Jazeera

The Economic Times reported that IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said several previously active nuclear initiatives in Iran have now ceased, and that the ongoing conflict and targeting of Tehran's assets have shifted intelligence assessments about Iran's nuclear trajectory.

In the same Economic Times account, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that “Israel and Lebanon can do a peace deal tomorrow,” while maintaining that “Israel has no territorial claims in Lebanon. Hezbollah is the impediment.”

Euronews reported that concerns about a possible ground operation against Iran's nuclear facilities are mounting as U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran could recover its main stockpile of highly enriched uranium through a very narrow channel.

Euronews said the reports also indicate that the United States and Israel are considering sending special operations forces into Iran to guard high-purity uranium stocks, and that the main objective is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

In the same account, Euronews reported that Trump said on Sunday that Tehran was only two weeks away from producing a nuclear weapon, while also noting that he had previously stated American forces had completely destroyed Iran's nuclear program after striking three nuclear facilities in Iran in June last year.

The BBC reported that observers raised the possibility that the loss of aircraft and the complexity of rescuing pilots might deter Trump from any ground operation to seize Iran's key oil export terminal at Kharg Island and other points in the Persian Gulf, even as Trump declared victory after rescuing the second crew member of an F-15 shot down over Iran.