"U.S. Said to Weigh Broader Options in Iran Crisis…Including Possible Additional Ground Troops"

The United States is reportedly reviewing a range of military options to raise the level of its response as the military confrontation with Iran drags on.

According to Reuters on the 18th (local time), President Donald Trump’s administration is discussing the deployment of additional troops—on the order of several thousand—to bolster operations in the Middle East.

Options under review include an operation to secure safe shipping lanes for oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. While the mission would be carried out primarily by the Air Force and Navy, plans to deploy troops to Iran’s coastal areas if necessary are also being floated.

An operation targeting Kharg Island—through which roughly 90% of Iran’s crude exports are concentrated—is also being discussed as a key option. The U.S. struck military facilities in the area on the 13th, and some military experts say controlling, rather than destroying, critical energy infrastructure could be more effective.

However, deploying ground forces is seen as an option with heavy political as well as military risk. Analysts note the operational risk is high because Iran has the capability to strike the area using missiles and drones.

A White House official said, “No decision has been made on deploying ground troops at this time, but the President is reviewing all options.”

Separately, the U.S. is also said to be examining the possibility of an operation to secure Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. That mission, however, is assessed as a complex operation entailing significant risk.

So far, U.S. forces have carried out more than 7,800 airstrikes since February 28 and have destroyed or damaged more than 120 Iranian vessels. About 50,000 U.S. troops are stationed in the Middle East.

As the war enters its third week, U.S. casualties have also been reported. To date, 13 have been killed and about 200 wounded.

President Trump has cited preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and ensuring the stability of maritime routes as key objectives, and strategic deliberations over the level of future military response are expected to continue.