Darren Lyn
21 March 2026•Update: 21 March 2026
The Trump administration is making detailed preparations for deploying US ground troops to Iran, according to a report published Friday.
It comes one day after President Donald Trump told reporters at a news conference, "No, I'm not putting troops anywhere," but added, "If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you."
CBS News reported that senior military commanders have submitted specific requests aimed at preparing for the deployment of American ground forces in Iran as the president coordinates with Israel on the joint use of US and Israeli military resources.
"It's the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality, it does not mean the President has made a decision, and as the President said in the Oval Office yesterday, he is not planning to send ground troops anywhere at this time," White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
In addition to the potential use of US ground forces, the report said military officials have held meetings to prepare for how to handle prisoners of war in the event Iranian soldiers and paramilitary operatives are detained, and where those detainees would be held.
As Trump weighs the deployment of US ground troops, Iran continues to attack oil infrastructure in the Gulf region, including drone strikes Friday on energy facilities, hitting an oil refinery in Kuwait, according to media reports. Iran has also fired missiles at targets in Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Approximately 4,000 US military members are in deployment to Iran, including 2,500 Marines, according to Newsmax. The troops are being placed aboard three amphibious vessels, which house F-35 fighter jets, missiles and amphibious vehicles capable of launching from ships for a land assault.
The latest numbers released by the US military reveal that 13 service members have been killed in the war so far and 200 troops have been injured, without troops on the ground.
