Here’s what President Trump had to say.
President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he has not ruled out sending U.S. troops into Iran, though he stressed such a move would only happen if there were a “very good reason.”
The comments come as tensions in the Middle East remain high following a series of American military strikes that Trump says have severely damaged Iran’s military infrastructure.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning to Florida from Dover Air Force Base, Trump made clear that while ground forces are not currently planned, the option remains available if circumstances demand it.
When asked whether American troops could eventually be sent into Iran, Trump said it was not completely off the table.
“It’s possible, but only under very serious circumstances,” he said. “And if that ever happened, their forces would already be so weakened that they wouldn’t be capable of fighting us on the ground.”
This reflects Trump’s broader message that ground troops would only be considered if Iran’s military had already been heavily damaged by U.S. operations.
Trump Says Iran’s Military Has Been Crippled
According to Trump, recent U.S. operations have delivered a devastating blow to Iran’s military capabilities.
The president said American forces have already destroyed large portions of Iran’s naval fleet, air force, and missile infrastructure.
“We’ve wiped out their navy — 44 ships,” Trump said. “Their air force is gone. Every plane.”
Trump added that U.S. strikes have also targeted Iran’s missile production facilities and drone manufacturing centers.
“We’ve also hit their manufacturing areas where they make the missiles very hard,” he said. “Their drone capacity is way down.”
Trump argued that the campaign has dramatically weakened Iran’s ability to continue large-scale military operations.
“We’re far ahead in this war,” Trump said. “We’ve severely crippled their entire regime.”
Could U.S. Troops Secure Iranian Nuclear Sites?
Another possibility raised by the president involves the security of Iranian nuclear materials.
Trump said American forces could potentially play a role in ensuring those materials do not fall into the wrong hands, though he stressed that no formal discussions have taken place.
“We haven’t had detailed discussions about it yet,” Trump said. “But the destruction was complete, and they haven’t been able to access what remains.”
“At some point we may consider it,” he added. “That could turn out to be a very positive development.”
The president described such a mission as something the United States could consider later if necessary.
How Long Would a U.S. Military Operation Last?
If the United States were forced to deploy troops, Trump indicated the mission would last as long as needed to achieve its objectives.
“Whatever it takes,” the president said.
The comment reflects the administration’s stance that Iran cannot be allowed to rebuild the military capabilities that have been damaged during the conflict.
Additional Strikes Against Iran Still Possible
Trump also suggested that further military strikes could still take place depending on how the situation develops.
Earlier Saturday, the president posted a message on social media referencing the possibility of targeting additional Iranian “areas and groups.”
When asked about the statement, Trump said the administration is still evaluating its options.
“The military is almost non-existent,” Trump said. “If you look, we could hit the military itself very hard. Maybe we will, maybe we won’t.”
“We haven’t made that determination yet.”
Reports of Russian Support for Iran
Trump also addressed reports that Russia may be sharing intelligence with Iran about the location of U.S. military assets in the region.
The president said he has seen no evidence to support those claims.
“I have no indication whatsoever,” Trump said.
“If they are doing it, it’s not helping much.”
Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who was traveling with the president, also expressed skepticism about the reports.
“I certainly hope they’re not,” Witkoff said.
Trump added that even if intelligence were being shared, it would likely have little impact on the battlefield.
“They can give all the information they want,” Trump said. “The people they’re sending it to are overwhelmed.”
Iran’s Attacks Declining After U.S. Strikes
Despite continued attempts by Iran to launch drones and missiles at U.S. allies, Trump said the scale of those attacks has dropped dramatically.
According to the president, Iran’s current attacks are running at roughly nine percent of the level seen during the first two days of the conflict.
“We think that’s because they don’t have that much left,” Trump said.
He also pointed to the destruction of key missile launch systems.
“We’ve knocked out about 70 percent of the rocket launchers,” Trump said. “The launchers are a big deal — very hard to replace and extremely expensive.”
Iran Apologizes to Middle Eastern Neighbors
Trump also highlighted what he described as a significant diplomatic shift after Iran issued apologies to several Middle Eastern countries it had previously targeted with missiles.
“All of a sudden they apologize to the Middle Eastern states that they shot at,” Trump said.
“You mark that down as a victory for us.”
“That’s basically a surrender right there.”
However, reports indicated that some missile attacks continued Saturday, including strikes that impacted areas near the United Arab Emirates.
Trump Calls for Iran’s “Unconditional Surrender”
Throughout the conflict, Trump has repeatedly called on Iran to accept unconditional surrender, and he reiterated that demand again this weekend.
“It’s the point where they finally give up,” Trump said. “Or when they’re no longer able to continue fighting because there’s no one left to surrender.”
Despite the tough rhetoric, Trump said he is not looking to unnecessarily expand the war.
The president specifically ruled out arming Kurdish forces that could potentially serve as ground troops in the region.
“We don’t want to make the war any more complex than it already is,” Trump said.
Trump Reflects on the Human Cost of War
Earlier Saturday, Trump attended a solemn ceremony at Dover Air Force Base honoring the first American service members killed during the conflict.
Reflecting on the moment, the president acknowledged the tragic cost of war.
“It’s a sad part of war,” Trump said.
“It’s the bad part of war.”