President Trump made clear on Friday he will not agree to a ceasefire with Iran. "When you are in the middle of annihilating the other side, you don't call a ceasefire," he stated at the White House, closing the door on negotiations.
Hormuz Strait: Europe and Asia Must Act
Asked about the blockade of the Hormuz Strait, Trump shifted responsibility to nations reliant on the waterway. "We don't need it. Europe needs it, South Korea, Japan and many other countries need it, so they have to get involved," he said, adding that the strait will "open automatically" at a certain stage. He offered no timeline or specifics. Trump also called NATO members "COWARDS" on social media, accusing them of lacking the courage to assist, and emphasized the U.S. expects no help from allies.
Pentagon Ground Deployment Plans Ready
According to CBS, citing multiple sources, Pentagon officials have drawn up detailed plans for deploying ground troops to Iran. Senior military commanders have submitted specific requests and options for Trump to approve. The military has even held meetings on how to handle captured Iranian soldiers and paramilitary personnel during operations. Meanwhile, the U.S. is deploying up to 2,500 additional Marines to the Middle East. When pressed by reporters on Thursday, Trump first said "No, I'm not going to deploy troops anywhere," but quickly added, "If I were to deploy, I certainly wouldn't tell you."
The conflict traces back to February 28, when a joint U.S.-Israeli operation struck Iran, killing Supreme Leader Khamenei in the first wave of airstrikes. His son Mojtaba succeeded him, and tensions have escalated into a sustained standoff. Notably, Trump is also internally weighing the possibility of "scaling down" military operations, leaving the direction of the Iran conflict uncertain.