Fact Check: Are US soldiers refusing to be deployed in Iran?

WASHINGTON, DC: The ongoing US-Iran war has now entered its third week with no ceasefire in sight. Intense aerial campaigns have severely degraded Iran's missile, drone, and naval capabilities.

Meanwhile, Iran has retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz, launching attacks on regional US bases and allies, and triggering a broader regional crisis.

Amid this, the Center on Conscience & War, a non-profit organization,  quoted family members of service members and soldiers, where a woman said her husband wants 'nothing to do with this war' and is not alone. But what is the reality behind this claim? Let us find out below.

Claim: US soldiers are refusing to be deployed in Iran

In an X thread, the Center on Conscience & War wrote, "We have spoken with the spouse of an infantryman in the 31st MEU currently headed towards Iran. With her permission, we are sharing some details of the conversation."

In a comment under the post, the organization wrote, "Her husband wants 'nothing to do with this war' and is not alone; some number of Marines in the unit, specifically rank E-3 to E-5, do not agree with the mission…"

"She reported that decline of confidence in the Department of War began with the Venezuela operation and intensified with the Minab school massacre…," the post added.

The post further mentioned, "She tells us at least one high-ranking officer in the unit is 'war hungry', making repeated comments about this being a Holy War for Armageddon, causing some Marines & families to believe they have 'no regard for safety' of his men or legality of orders."

Fact Check: False, no credible evidence to prove it

The claim made in the social media post is not true, as it reflects individual objections, morale concerns, and pre-deployment anxiety instead of mass refusals, mutinies, desertions, or units standing down.

Moreover, several major mainstream outlets have not reported any confirmed incidents of widespread refusal or disciplinary actions tied to deployment refusals in the conflict. 

Meanwhile, viral online claims appear to be unverified, often from social media, activist accounts, or unconfirmed sources, and lack substantiation from official Pentagon statements or independent reporting.

Furthermore, the Pentagon has activated additional units, such as Marines, toward the Strait of Hormuz, without public indications of broad non-compliance.

Hence, the claim that soldiers are broadly refusing to be deployed in Iran remains unsubstantiated and seems exaggerated or false based on available evidence.