Trump Considers Ground Invasion and Airstrikes on Iranian Islands and Nuclear Site

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering expanding U.S. military operations against Iran, including intensified airstrikes and deploying ground forces to seize Iranian islands near the Strait of Hormuz. According to American officials cited by the Wall Street Journal, options under discussion include capturing the island of Haraj and other territories along the strait, as well as bombing a fortified underground tunnel complex known as "Mount Macho," linked to Iran's nuclear weapons program. This site, located near the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, is carved about 100 meters into granite rock, making it highly resistant to conventional bunker-busting bombs and one of Iran's most secure nuclear development centers.

The discussions took place during a Tuesday evening meeting and several informal talks involving senior officials such as Vice President Mike Pence, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Keane. Although Trump has not made a final decision and publicly favors a diplomatic resolution, Iran has refused to surrender its nuclear stockpile despite weeks of military strikes and a temporary agreement allowing Tehran to profit from oil sales. The diplomatic stalemate has prompted Trump to seek new escalation options to pressure Iran into compliance or at least halt attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Some U.S. officials noted Trump's hesitation to commit to ground troops, as he has repeatedly backed away from his most aggressive public threats, including the seizure of Haraj Island and targeting Iran's oil industry. However, if approved, these plans would mark the most dangerous phase of the nearly five-month conflict, potentially drawing the U.S. deeper into the Middle East and causing fuel price spikes that could complicate Republican strategies for the upcoming midterm elections. In a recent interview, Vice President Pence emphasized that military strikes aim to compel Iran back to negotiations, stating, "We're not just going to bomb. We will try to use our military power as one of many tools to solve the problem."