Donald Trump is weighing a dramatic escalation in the Middle East conflict, with plans under consideration that could see thousands more American troops deployed.
The President's administration is actively exploring a range of military options as the war with Tehran enters its third week, with the Pentagon preparing for what could come next in an increasingly volatile campaign.
Among the scenarios under review is a major reinforcement of US forces in the region, giving Trump greater flexibility as he considers expanding operations against Iran.
Sources said these reinforcements could underpin efforts to secure safe passage for global oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz - a critical artery for international trade.
Such a mission would largely rely on air and naval power. However, insiders warned it could also pave the way for American troops to be stationed along Iran's own coastline - a move that would mark a significant escalation in the conflict.
Behind closed doors, officials have also examined the possibility of sending ground forces to Kharg Island, the strategic island through which 90 per cent of Iran's oil exports flow.
While the US has already struck military targets on the island earlier this month, experts suggest seizing control of the facility could be more advantageous than destroying it outright.
Yet, the risks are stark. One US official cautioned that any such operation would be highly dangerous, with Iran capable of targeting the island with missiles and drones.
The idea of deploying American troops - even on a limited mission - carries heavy political weight for Trump.
Public support for the conflict remains low, and the President has long pledged to avoid dragging the United States into fresh Middle Eastern wars.
Still, discussions have gone further. Officials have reportedly considered whether US forces could have been used to secure Iran's stockpiles of highly enriched uranium.
This complex and perilous task would likely fall to elite special operations units.
Despite the sweeping nature of the plans, sources stressed that no immediate ground employment appears imminent and declined to reveal further operational details.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'There has been no decision to send ground troops at this time, but President Trump wisely keeps all options at his disposal.'
'The president is focused on achieving all of the defined objectives of Operation Epic Fury: destroy Iran's ballistic missile capacity, annihilate their navy, ensure their terrorist proxies cannot destabilise the region, and guarantee that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.'
The Pentagon has so far refused to comment on the deliberations.
The high-level talks come as US forces continue a relentless assault on Iran's military infrastructure - targeting naval assets, missile systems, drone stockpiles, and defence facilities across the nation.
According to US Central Command, more than 7,800 strikes have been carried out since the campaign began on February 28, with over 120 Iranian vessels damaged or destroyed.
Around 50,000 American troops are currently stationed across the Middle East.
The human cost of the conflict is also mounting. Thirteen US service members have been killed, while roughly 200 have been wounded - though most injuries are said to be minor.
Trump has made clear that his ambitions stretch beyond weakening Iran's military, extending to securing maritime routes and ensuring Tehran cannot develop nuclear weapons.
However, committing ground troops could dramatically widen the scope of the war - and the risks.
For years, Trump has criticised previous administrations for entangling the US in overseas conflicts, repeatedly vowing to steer clear of new wars.
More recently, however, he has declined to rule out the prospect of 'boots on the ground' in Iran.
A senior White House official told Reuters that Trump has various options for acquiring Iran's nuclear material but has not decided how to proceed.
'Certainly there are ways in which it could be acquired,'
the official said, adding:
'He hasn't made a decision yet.'
In testimony to lawmakers, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Iran's nuclear enrichment programme had already been crippled by strikes earlier this year, with underground facilities effectively sealed off and 'buried and shuttered with cement.'
Meanwhile, military planning appears to extend beyond the arrival of an Amphibious Ready Group in the region next week, which will include more than 2,000 Marines.
Complicating matters, however, is the temporary loss of a major US asset.
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is being sent to Greece for maintenance after a fire on board, reducing available American firepower at a critical moment.
Trump himself has sent mixed signals over the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz.
While he initially suggested US naval escorts for tankers, he later urged allies to step in and, with little response, has even floated the idea of walking away entirely.
'I wonder what would happen if we 'finished off' what's left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don't, be responsible for the so-called 'Strait?'
Trump posted on Truth Social.
It comes just days after the US military deployed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator bombs on underground missile sites along Iran's coastline near the Strait of Hormuz.
'Hours ago, U.S. forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran's coastline near the Strait of Hormuz,'
US Central Command said Tuesday night.
'The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait.'
The 5,000-pound GBU-72 Advanced 5K Penetrator was deployed for the mission. The device, also known as a bunker buster, was first deployed in 2021.
The massive attack came as the US conflict with Iran continues unabated, and President Trump zeroes in on the narrow strait that connects the Persian Gulf to the rest of the global economy.
The strike was the latest attempt to protect worldwide commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The bombings were made public just hours after Trump turned on the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Australia for declining to help secure the waterway.
About 20 percent of the global oil supply flows through the waterway on a typical day, but it has been effectively closed by Iran since the US began bombarding Iran.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday said the strait was 'open, but closed to our enemies'.
The United Arab Emirates said Tuesday that the Persian Gulf country could join an international effort led by the US to ensure the safety and security of the waterway.
Trump bristled at American allies who 'don't want to get involved' in the Iran war, despite his appeals for help securing the Strait as oil prices spiral.
'We no longer 'need,' or desire,'
the President wrote on Truth Social.
Trump has threatened to withdraw from NATO in the past. The president said he had 'nothing currently in mind' when asked whether he would retaliate against NATO.