US preparing for ground operation in Iran

The US is making extensive preparations for a ground operation in Iran. This news was reported by a report by the US media CBS on Friday (March 20). The Trump administration may conduct this operation very soon.

This news comes a day after President Donald Trump said at a press conference on Thursday (March 19) regarding the ground operation in Iran, "No, I am not sending troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly would not have told you."

CBS News reported that while the president is coordinating with Israel on the joint use of US and Israeli military assets, senior military commanders have submitted specific requirements for preparing to deploy US ground forces in Iran.

However, White House spokeswoman Carolyn Levitt said in a statement, "It is the Pentagon's job to prepare to give the commander in chief the maximum number of options." "That doesn't mean the president has made any decisions, and as the president said in the Oval Office yesterday, he's not planning to send ground forces anywhere at this time."

In addition to the potential use of U.S. ground forces, the report said military officials have held preparatory meetings to discuss how to handle prisoners of war if Iranian military and paramilitary forces are captured and where those prisoners will be held.

CBS News also reported that the Trump administration is considering a strategy to "secure or remove" Iran's nuclear material. According to the report, no final decision has been made on any such operation and it is unclear when it might be implemented.

The plan is largely focused on a possible operation using special forces. Analysts say such a mission would be extremely complex and risky.