WASHINGTON: The White House has confirmed that the administration of Donald Trump is deliberately avoiding firm public commitments about potential military action against Iran, arguing that such restraint preserves strategic flexibility during a rapidly evolving conflict.
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Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said deploying US ground troops into Iran is not currently part of the administration’s military strategy. However, she declined to rule out the possibility altogether. “It’s not part of the current plan, but I’m not going to remove an option for the president that is on the table,” Leavitt said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump had a “good feeling” Iran was about to attack US assets in the region, adding that strikes were ordered over what she called an “imminent threat.” pic.twitter.com/DuLRQDWcq4
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 5, 2026
Her remarks came during the first White House briefing since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, a joint US–Israeli campaign of air and naval strikes against Iran that began on Feb 28. According to officials, the strikes have targeted Iranian military and security infrastructure and reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with several senior commanders.
Since the operation began, neither Washington nor Israel has deployed ground forces, relying instead on airpower and naval strikes. Leavitt said the campaign is focused on four objectives: eliminating Iran’s ballistic missile threat, destroying its naval capability, disrupting missile and drone production facilities, and blocking Tehran’s pathway to a nuclear weapon.
She added that the United States was moving toward “complete and total control” of Iranian airspace, with nearly 2,000 targets reportedly struck so far.
The possibility of sending ground troops has nevertheless become a central issue as tensions intensify. President Trump recently told the New York Post he would not rule out the option if necessary.
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Meanwhile, the situation has sparked growing debate in Congress. Democratic senators including Richard Blumenthal, Elizabeth Warren and Chris Murphy have warned that the United States could be drawn into a prolonged war.
For now, officials insist the strategy relies on air and naval operations, but the administration continues to keep all military options on the table as the conflict develops.