Trump ‘plotting Iran ground invasion’ as President mulls dangerous nuclear weapons raid | World | News

US President Donald Trump could send US troops into Iran as the US mulls a ground invasion to end the deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear weapons. The 79-year-old is reportedly weighing whether to deploy ground forces to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and use special operations troops to seize the nuclear materials the regime would need to build a bomb.

In a high stake meeting with his military advisers Trump will be briefed on new military options aimed at breaking the deadlock in stalled peace talks between the two nations. US Central Command, Brad ‌Cooper will take the lead in presenting the new plans for potential military action against Iran, Axios reported. Cooper is said to have drawn up a “short and powerful” strikes plan, aimed at breaking Tehran’s position and forcing it to lift its blockade of the key waterway, according to reports.

The Axios report, citing unnamed sources, said the proposed series of strikes would likely include infrastructure targets.

Another plan expected to be presented to Trump involves seizing control of part of the Strait of Hormuz to restore commercial shipping, with the report noting that the operation could include the use of ground forces.

The strait, which transits one-fifth of all global oil shipping, has been stalled for months. Following stalled peace talks earlier this month, Trump imposed a naval blockade on all Iranian ports in the Gulf.

The US leader believes the economic blockade represents the least risky of the options presented to him, officials said.

Quoting a security source, Iranian Press TV said “the continued American maritime piracy and banditry in the form of so-called ‘naval blockade’ will soon be met with ‘practical and unprecedented military action'”.

The Iranian media also said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by the US “is, in essence, American maritime banditry”.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since the assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei, said that the only place for Americans in the Persian Gulf is “at the bottom of its waters,” according to state television.