Highlights:
- Trump says he will not rule out sending US ground troops into Iran.
- He claims 49 Iranian leaders were killed in one day of strikes.
- The operation is called Operation Epic Fury.
- Trump says the war may last about four weeks or less.
- Recent polling shows mixed public support for the strikes.
President Donald Trump says he is not ruling out sending American ground troops into Iran if it becomes necessary. In an interview on Monday (2) mentioned in New York Post, Trump said he does not want to make promises that limit military options.
“I don’t say there will be no boots on the ground,” Trump said. He added that troops are “probably not needed,” but he would consider them “if they were necessary.”
The comments come after the US launched major airstrikes on Saturday (28) under an operation called Operation Epic Fury. Trump said the goal was to weaken Iran’s military and political leadership. He claimed that 49 top Iranian officials were killed in one day. According to Trump, military planners expected that result to take at least four weeks.
“We’re right on schedule, way ahead of schedule,” he said. Trump also suggested that the overall conflict could end sooner than the four weeks he previously estimated.
The president said he made the final decision to strike Iran after talks in Geneva broke down last Thursday. He claimed US intelligence showed that Iran was secretly working again on nuclear projects. Trump said earlier that nuclear sites had already been destroyed, but officials later discovered a new location where enrichment activities were taking place.
“They wanted to make a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “So it was just time.”
Trump insisted he believes the decision was the right one. He argued that stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon is more important than worrying about short-term political backlash.
Recent polling shows the public is divided. A Reuters/Ipsos survey found that 27 per cent of Americans approve of the strikes, while 43 per cent disapprove. Another 29 per cent said they were unsure. Trump dismissed the numbers and said he does not make decisions based on polls.
“I have to do the right thing,” he said. “You cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump also said he is not concerned about possible retaliation, including terrorism. “We’ll take it out,” he said, suggesting the US is prepared to respond to any threats.
The situation in the region remains tense. Smoke was seen rising over parts of Tehran after the strikes. Reports say several military and political leaders were targeted. The future leadership of Iran is now uncertain, and global leaders are closely watching how the conflict develops.
Trump described public reaction as stronger than polling suggests. He said many Americans support the action quietly, calling it a “silent majority.”
As the operation continues, questions remain about how long the conflict will last and whether US ground troops will eventually be involved. For now, Trump says all options remain on the table.
