The United States is reportedly preparing for the possibility of a ground war in Iran, with Pentagon officials drawing up detailed deployment plans even as President Donald Trump publicly insists no such move is imminent.
According to a Friday, March 20, report by CBS News, citing multiple sources briefed on internal discussions, senior military commanders have submitted specific proposals outlining how U.S. ground forces could be deployed into Iran if the conflict escalates further.
The planning, led by the United States Department of War and United States Central Command (CENTCOM), reportedly includes operational scenarios, troop positioning, and even post-capture detention strategies for Iranian personnel.
Despite the scale of the preparations, President Trump struck a cautious tone when asked whether he is deploying additional troops to the region for deterrence or to optimize your operational capabilities
“I would say this, that if I told you the answer to that question, my military people wouldn’t be very happy – but we have a lot of troops, we have unlimited ammunition, we have the greatest equipment in the world, and we are decimating Iran. It’s about time, and frankly, it should have been done long before me,” he said on Friday before departing for Florida alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Pentagon expands military options
The U.S. is preparing elements of the 82nd Airborne Division—a rapid-response force designed for immediate deployment—while additional planning involves the Army’s Global Response Force and Marine Expeditionary Units.
Thousands of Marines are already on the move. U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News that multiple warships carrying roughly 2,200 Marines recently departed California, marking the second such deployment since the conflict began. Another Marine unit dispatched earlier from the Pacific is still en route to the region.
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The deployments include amphibious assault ships and advanced air support, positioning U.S. forces for rapid escalation if required.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to downplay the significance of the preparations, describing them as routine.
“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,” she said earlier this week.
Officials have also reportedly held discussions on how to handle the detention of Iranian soldiers and paramilitary operatives in the event of a ground operation, including identifying potential holding locations and legal frameworks.
Iran warns of ‘another Vietnam’
The developments come as Iran issues stark warnings about the consequences of any U.S. ground invasion.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh, who told Sky News that the United States risks being dragged into a prolonged and costly conflict if it commits forces on Iranian soil. Iran warns of a “quagmire.
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In the interview, Khatibzadeh invoked the memory of the Vietnam War, one of the most difficult and controversial military engagements in U.S. history.
“Just read what happened in Vietnam,” he said, warning that American troops could face a similar fate.
The Iranian official emphasized that Tehran is prepared for a sustained fight and is not currently prioritizing diplomacy, though he did not rule out negotiations entirely.
However, President Trump dismissed warnings from Iran that any American ground deployment could spiral into “another Vietnam,”
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, March 17, Trump was asked about the risks of deploying U.S. troops into Iran. The president, in turn, insisted he is unconcerned, to which he replied, “No… I’m really not afraid of anything.”
