President Donald Trump said Saturday there could be a “very good reason” to send American troops into Iran as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.
The remarks came during comments to reporters aboard Air Force One following a dignified transfer ceremony for six U.S. servicemembers killed during the war.
An X clip of Trump’s comments quickly spread online as speculation grew about whether the U.S. might deploy ground forces into Iran.
Trump was asked directly whether sending troops into the country was under serious consideration.
“I don’t even want to talk about it now,” Trump initially said.
“Could there be? Possibly. For very good reason, there would have to be a very good reason.”
The president suggested that if U.S. ground forces were ever deployed, Iran’s military would already be severely weakened.
“If we ever did that they would be so decimated that they wouldn’t be able to fight at the ground level,” Trump said.
The comments came as Israel launched another wave of airstrikes targeting Iran’s capital.
Footage circulating online showed massive explosions lighting up the skyline of Tehran.
The Israeli military said the new phase of the campaign is focusing on Iran’s oil infrastructure.
Several oil storage facilities and refineries near the capital were reportedly targeted in the strikes.
Israel said the attacks are intended to weaken the Iranian regime’s ability to fund its military operations.
Meanwhile, Iran launched additional retaliatory strikes across the region, as the Daily Mail reported.
Missiles and drones targeted several Gulf nations, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Debris from an intercepted missile struck the luxury 23 Marina skyscraper in Dubai during one attack.
A separate Iranian drone strike forced the evacuation of Dubai International Airport earlier in the day.
Iran’s de facto leader, Ali Larijani, vowed the U.S. would “pay the price” for killing Iran’s longtime leader, Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei was killed during the opening stage of the U.S. and Israeli military campaign.
Larijani said Iran would not accept Trump’s demand for “unconditional surrender.”
The conflict has also spread beyond the Middle East.
Rocket attacks were launched toward the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad, though most were intercepted.
In Europe, an explosion outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo caused minor injuries and damage to the building.
Trump also took a swipe at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the escalating conflict.
Starmer reportedly considered sending British aircraft carriers to the region.
Trump dismissed the idea in a Truth Social post.
“We don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won,” Trump wrote.
Despite the growing regional tensions, Trump said the U.S. is winning the conflict.
“We’re winning the war by a lot,” the president told reporters earlier in the day.
For now, the war has largely been fought with air and naval strikes.
But Trump’s comments have fueled new speculation that U.S. ground troops could eventually be deployed if the conflict continues to expand.
