Pentagon Prepares Ground Operations as Trump Weighs Final Blow Against Iran

Military Plans Take Shape

The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of limited ground operations in Iran, potentially including raids on Kharg Island and coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz , according to multiple reports from U.S. officials. These plans represent a new phase of the war that could be significantly more dangerous to U.S. troops than the first four weeks .

Officials describe four major "final blow" options Trump could choose from: Invading or blockading Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub. Invading Larak, an island that helps Iran solidify its control of the Strait of Hormuz. Seizing the strategic island of Abu Musa and two smaller islands, which lie near the western entrance to the strait and are controlled by Iran but also claimed by the UAE. Blocking or seizing ships that are exporting Iranian oil on the eastern side of the Hormuz Strait .

The U.S. military has also prepared plans for ground operations deep inside the interior of Iran to secure the highly enriched uranium buried within nuclear facilities. Multiple scenarios under consideration involve thousands of boots on the ground . About 3,500 additional soldiers arrived in the Middle East on board the USS Tripoli. The sailors and marines are with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and arrived in the region on March 27, along with "transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets" .

High-Stakes Diplomatic Theater

Trump hasn't made a decision yet on pursuing any of these scenarios, and White House officials describe any potential ground operations as "hypothetical." But sources say he's ready to escalate if talks with Iran don't yield tangible results soon . White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned Iran on Wednesday that Trump is ready to strike "harder than ever before" if no deal can be reached. "The President doesn't bluff and he is ready to unleash hell. Iran shouldn't miscalculate again... any violence beyond this point will be because the Iranian regime... refuses to come to a deal" .

Iranian officials have said they don't trust Trump's negotiation push and see it as a ruse to launch sneak attacks. Speaker of parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X on Wednesday that Iranian intelligence suggests "Iran's enemies, with the support of a country in the region, are preparing an operation to occupy one of Iran's islands" . "The enemy openly sends messages of negotiation and dialogue and secretly plans a ground attack. Unaware that our men are waiting for the arrival of American soldiers on the ground to set fire to them and punish their regional partners forever" , Iranian officials warned.

Global Economic Earthquake

The stakes extend far beyond military casualties. In 2024, oil flow through the strait averaged 20 million barrels per day (b/d), or the equivalent of about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption . Oil prices surged faster than during any other conflict in recent history; Brent crude oil prices surpassed US$100 per barrel on 8 March 2026 for the first time in four years, rising to US$126 per barrel at its peak. The closure of the strait has been described as the largest disruption to the energy supply since the 1970s energy crisis, as well as the largest in the history of the global oil market .

In the United States, gasoline prices have jumped by more than 65 cents per gallon since the conflict began. Jet fuel and diesel prices have also surged roughly 25 percent, raising the prospect of more expensive airline tickets and higher shipping costs that could push up grocery prices . In parts of Asia — including Thailand, Pakistan, and Bangladesh — fuel shortages and long lines at gas stations have already begun to appear .

The Point of No Return

A closure of the Strait of Hormuz that removes close to 20 percent of global oil supplies from the market during second quarter 2026 is expected to raise the average West Texas Intermediate (WTI) price of oil to $98 per barrel and lower global real GDP growth by an annualized 2.9 percentage points in second quarter 2026 . A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz would almost certainly trigger a global recession. "The world economy cannot grow without 20 percent of its energy supply" , analysts warn.

The coming days will determine whether diplomatic efforts can prevent what could become one of the most economically devastating conflicts in modern history. With thousands of American troops positioned for potential ground operations and Iran vowing fierce resistance, the world watches as two nuclear powers edge toward a confrontation that could reshape global energy markets and trigger economic shockwaves felt from Beijing to Berlin.