Trump’s Iran strategy: Troops on the table, Kurds sidelined

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — President Donald Trump signaled on Saturday that U.S. ground troops could be deployed to Iran to secure nuclear assets while explicitly excluding Kurdish forces from the military coalition.

The announcement, made aboard Air Force One, clarifies the administration's stance on "unconditional surrender" and emphasizes a desire to keep the conflict from becoming further complicated by regional proxy groups. Trump emphasized that his definition of surrender entails a point where the Iranian regime can no longer fight or simply "quits".

Securing nuclear assets with ground forces

While the conflict has primarily relied on air superiority, Trump kept the door open for ground operations to secure enriched uranium. According to the Associated Press, these assets are believed to be hidden in nuclear facilities previously bombed by the U.S.. "We haven't talked about this yet... it would be a great thing," Trump stated, noting that currently, the U.S. is focused on "destroying" Iranian capabilities before pursuing the uranium.

Sidelining Kurdish involvement

Despite reports of the CIA arming Kurdish groups, Trump rejected their inclusion in the active war effort. He acknowledged their willingness to fight but argued that their participation would make the situation too complex.

This stance was echoed in diplomatic circles. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reported that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied any intention of working with Kurdish groups inside Iran. Fidan warned that using such groups as "proxy elements" would be an irreparable mistake, noting that Israel's intentions to use them are already "no secret".

Controversy over civilian casualties

The President also addressed the international outcry following an attack on a girls' primary school in southern Iran that killed at least 175 people, mostly children. While Trump maintains that Iran was responsible due to "inaccurate munitions," a forensic analysis by the New York Times, CNN, and the Associated Press suggests the blast was likely a U.S. precision strike targeting an adjacent Revolutionary Guard naval base.

Conflict timeline remains uncertain

The war, which escalated following the February 28 assassination of Ali Khamenei, has now spread to Lebanon and targeted U.S. assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq. Although Trump initially estimated a four-week duration, he now states the war will continue "as long as it takes".

"We are winning the war by a large margin. We destroyed their entire empire of evil," Trump declared shortly after attending a ceremony for six fallen U.S. soldiers at Dover Air Force Base.

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