U.S. officials have stated that the White House is deploying hundreds of Marines to the Middle East and assessing a plan to seize Iran's Kharg Island, a critical oil export hub. Even a limited deployment of ground forces inside Iran would pose significant risks for President Donald Trump. Any operation to capture and control Iranian energy infrastructure would expose U.S. forces to far greater dangers than the current conflict, which has already claimed the lives of 13 American service personnel. Such actions would also escalate the cost and scale of hostilities beyond the scope of airstrikes.
Michael O'Hanlon, a defense strategy expert at the Brookings Institution who has previously advised the Pentagon and CIA, commented on March 17 from the Persian Gulf region, "There are certainly tactical advantages, but the costs could be high, and there is no clear strategic endgame." He added that deploying a Marine Expeditionary Unit carries "considerable risk of casualties, with no clear path for how such an operation would practically accelerate regime change or persuade Iran to negotiate an end to hostilities."
According to informed sources, support for limited military action is growing within President Trump's advisory circle. Following a CBS News report on Friday stating that the Pentagon is preparing for the potential deployment of ground troops to Iran, oil prices rose. The report, citing unnamed sources, indicated that it remains unclear under what circumstances President Trump would authorize such an operation.
Kharg Island, which is one-third the size of Manhattan, could be swiftly secured and used as significant leverage to pressure Iran into lifting its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. While President Trump has temporarily ruled out the possibility of sending troops, stating earlier this week, "I won't send troops anywhere," he has ordered Marines to the region. This includes the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, repositioned from Japan, which comprises over 2,000 personnel.
In a further indication that the administration is preparing for a prolonged conflict, the Pentagon has requested an additional $200 billion from Congress to cover war expenses. One anonymous source familiar with the matter stated that this decision is part of a broader, weeks-long strategy to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Media reports on Friday also indicated that the Pentagon is dispatching three naval vessels to the Middle East and deploying thousands of additional Marines to the area.
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