Trump says sending ground troops to Iran not necessary for now

ANKARA, Turkey — U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that deploying ground forces to Iran is not necessary at the current stage, speaking on the sidelines of a NATO summit held in the Turkish capital. Asked about the possibility, Trump said Iran has been "largely neutralized," questioning why ground troops would be sent in. He said U.S. forces have made significant progress in air operations against Iranian targets, reducing what he described as the need for a large-scale ground intervention. Trump had previously paused advanced military plans in May aimed at seizing Iran's highly enriched uranium. U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine had presented options to the president for a potential ground operation, but Trump opted for caution following warnings that such an operation could prompt a harsh Iranian response and further disruption to the global economy. The president additionally described sending ground troops to Iran as a "waste of time," adding that he preferred the continuation of airstrikes. The summit in Ankara provides a multilateral backdrop for the administration's continued coordination with allies on Iran policy, though Trump gave no indication of a shift toward escalation on the ground.