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Ground options debated
U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not see the need for a ground operation in Iran, telling the New York Post, "We don't need a ground operation now. We did it, we destroyed most of their armed forces with bombings," in an interview reported by 1News.az.
“"We don't need a ground operation now. We did it, we destroyed most of their armed forces with bombings,"”
El Mundo America reported that the U.S. is reducing its naval presence around Iran and that the amphibious assault ship 'Boxer' departed last Saturday from Singapore with about 2,000 Marines on board, shifting focus away from Iran toward the Indo-Pacific.
El Mundo America also said the 'Boxer' carries, depending on configuration, from 5 to 25 aircraft including radar-invisible F-35 fighter bombers, and described the ship’s movement as happening without special publicity from the U.S. government.
In parallel, Euronews said concerns about a potential ground operation against Iran’s nuclear facilities are mounting, citing reporting that Iran could recover its main stockpile of highly enriched uranium via a very narrow corridor after attacks.
Euronews added that U.S. officials say the United States is continuously monitoring the Isfahan site and are highly confident it can detect and respond to any attempt to move the uranium.
Negotiations and threats
The Economic Times reported that IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told during a visit to the United Arab Emirates that several previously active nuclear initiatives in Iran have now ceased, and it linked the shift to the ongoing conflict and targeting of Tehran’s assets.
The Economic Times also said 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."
DW reported that Trump called for changes to a possible agreement with Iran and that Axios and The New York Times reported on Sunday that Trump’s changes included making the terms tougher and sending a new version of the framework to Iran for reconsideration.
DW further reported that state television said the United States promised Iran full access to assets worth $12 billion within 60 days, while the White House earlier this week called such commitments a fabrication.
In a separate thread, the Russian Security Council warned that "The United States and Israel may use the peace talks to pave the way for a ground operation against Iran," as reported by خبرگزاری فارس.
Nuclear stakes and risk
Euronews said Iran has about 450 kilograms of enriched uranium up to 60 percent enrichment that could, within a few weeks, be turned into material usable for a nuclear weapon, and it described the possibility of special operations forces inside Iranian soil to protect those reserves.
“"at some point we might do it. We haven't done it yet. Not now, maybe later,"”
Euronews also quoted Trump saying in an interview with reporters aboard the presidential aircraft that "at some point we might do it. We haven't done it yet. Not now, maybe later," when asked whether forces might be sent to secure nuclear materials.
BBC reported that after Trump declared victory following the rescue of the second crew member of an F-15 shot down over Iran, observers said threats to American aircraft and personnel remain, including portable air defense systems (MANPADS).
BBC added that sources in Washington floated speculation that losing aircraft and the complexity of the pilots’ rescue operation could deter Trump from ground options to seize Kharg Island and other points in the Gulf or to seize highly enriched uranium buried deep underground.
In the same BBC account, it said Trump warned on Truth Social that his deadline to begin attacks on Iran’s power plants and bridges is drawing near, and it quoted his message that "if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, they will live in hell."
