President Donald Trump listens to a reporter's question during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the Oval Office of the White House on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Despite the military buildup, both officials said Iran is not expected to yield under pressure.
By Vered Weiss, World Israel News
US President Donald Trump is weighing a ground operation against Iran, including a plan to capture Tehran’s Kharg Island, as Washington assesses that increased military pressure could force Iranian concessions in the ongoing war, officials from mediating countries said.
An official from one of the countries involved in mediation efforts told The Times of Israel that the United States has already sent thousands of troops to the region in preparation for such an operation, acting on Trump’s orders. The official said Washington privately believes Iran is unlikely to accept the terms outlined in a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
A second official from another mediating country said that while US forces may be capable of seizing Kharg Island, maintaining control would require significantly more troops and prolonged fighting.
The official indicated that such an effort would extend well beyond the four-to-six-week timeframe that US officials have publicly cited for the duration of the war.
Saturday marks the four-week point since the start of the conflict, with US officials continuing to state that operations remain ahead of schedule.
Despite the military buildup, both officials said Iran is not expected to yield under pressure.
They said the Islamic Republic is unlikely to capitulate even if a ground operation proceeds and does not appear willing to accept terms it had previously rejected.
Trump announced Monday that he would delay until Friday a deadline for Iran to accept the 15-point proposal or face a bombing campaign targeting its power plants. The extension comes as additional US Marine forces are scheduled to arrive in the region around the revised deadline.
The developments come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts by multiple countries seeking to mediate between Washington and Tehran, even as military preparations continue to advance.
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