US still considering ground operation in Iran — WP

Lead

The Pentagon is still weighing the possibility of additional strikes against Iran or ground operations if the current ceasefire collapses, according to a Washington Post report cited by multiple outlets. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump "has wisely kept all options on the table" should Iran not abandon its nuclear ambitions, per the report.

The remarks come against the backdrop of a conflict that began February 28, when the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran, as reported by several sources. Iran subsequently closed the Strait of Hormuz to ships associated with the US, Israel, and countries that supported the strikes. A two-week mutual ceasefire was announced by President Trump on April 7, but tensions remain high.

Coverage Comparison

Four separate reports from TASS, the Russian state news agency, provided near-identical accounts of the ongoing situation. All four articles reported the February 28 start of hostilities, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the April 7 ceasefire announcement. Three of the four included the casualty figure of 3,375 Iranians killed during 40 days of conflict, attributed to Iran's Emergency Medical Services Organization.

One article focused on the Pentagon's inability to estimate damage to American military bases in the Middle East from Iranian retaliatory strikes. In a news briefing, acting Under Secretary of Defense Jules Hurst acknowledged, "We don't have a final number for what the damage is to our installations overseas," adding that the cost of rebuilding would depend on decisions yet to be made.

A second article highlighted an expert opinion, with Dutch political scientist Kees van der Pijl, a former University of Sussex professor, telling TASS that a full-scale ground operation in Iran would be "suicidal" for the United States. Van der Pijl noted that Washington had considered such a scenario in the 1990s and calculated that Iran would prevail.

Another report covered the Iranian military's response, quoting army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia who said the army's commander-in-chief has ordered that no US or Israeli service member should survive a ground invasion.

The sources uniformly described the April 11 talks in Islamabad as unsuccessful, with one article noting that a new round might take place on April 16. Another mentioned that negotiations could resume on April 22.

Key Claims

• The Pentagon is considering new strikes against Iran or ground operations if the ceasefire is disrupted, according to The Washington Post, as cited in a TASS report.
• The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28, a claim repeated across all four articles.
• Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to ships associated with the US, Israel, and allied countries, as reported in three sources.
• A total of 3,375 people were killed in US-Israeli strikes during 40 days of war, according to Iran's Emergency Medical Services Organization, as reported by three sources.
• The US and Iran held unsuccessful talks in Islamabad on April 11, as reported in three sources.
• President Trump declared a two-week mutual ceasefire on April 7, as reported in multiple sources.
• Dutch political scientist Kees van der Pijl called a ground operation "suicidal" for the US, a claim carried by a single source (TASS) and not independently verified.
• The Pentagon cannot yet fully assess damage to US military bases from Iranian strikes, according to acting Under Secretary Jules Hurst, in a report from a single source.
• Iranian army chief Amir Khatami has ordered that no US or Israeli service members be left alive in case of ground invasion, as reported by a single source quoting an army spokesperson.

Perspectives

US official perspective: The White House insists that all options remain on the table, emphasizing the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The Pentagon, however, appears cautious about committing to costly rebuilding efforts without clear strategic direction.

Iranian perspective: Tehran has declared readiness for decisive retaliation against any ground invasion, closing the Strait of Hormuz and vowing that no aggressor will survive. Iranian authorities emphasize the human cost of the conflict, citing thousands of civilian casualties.

Expert perspective: Analysts like Kees van der Pijl argue that a full-scale ground operation would be catastrophic for the United States, pointing to historical assessments and the likely Iranian advantage in a prolonged ground war. Limited strikes or military buildup are seen as more plausible scenarios.

Russian media framing: TASS's coverage, while factual in tone, tends to highlight Iranian resistance and American strategic challenges, consistent with its state-affiliated perspective. The reports do not include Western official confirmations beyond the cited statements.

The situation remains fluid, with a resumption of talks reportedly possible in the coming days. Whether the ceasefire holds will likely determine whether the Pentagon's contingency plans for ground operations move from consideration to action.