President Donald Trump is considering escalating military action against Iran, potentially deploying ground troops to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and using special operations forces to seize nuclear materials necessary for building a bomb, according to reports.
New Military Options Presented
The President's top military advisers are preparing to brief him on new strategies designed to compel Iran to return to negotiations and end the ongoing conflict. Axios reports that CENTCOM's secret plans include 'short and powerful' strikes on Iranian infrastructure to increase pressure on Tehran to show flexibility regarding its nuclear program.
Ground Troops for Strait of Hormuz
One option under review involves using US ground troops to reopen commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil transit. The strait, which handles approximately one-fifth of the world's oil shipments, has been effectively closed for months due to Iranian disruptions.
Special Forces to Seize Nuclear Stockpile
Another strategy entails deploying special forces into Iran to recover its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. During previous negotiations, Iran refused to hand over this nuclear material to the United States.
Earlier this month, after peace talks stalled, Trump imposed a naval blockade on all Iranian ports in the Gulf. In response, Tehran has shut down oil shipping lanes by attacking tankers with speedboats and laying sea mines in the strait.
This is a developing story, and further details are expected as the President reviews these options with his military advisors.
