Trump won't rule out Iran ground troops, but will 'blow up everything over there' if talks fail

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump made it clear he is not closing the door on a major military escalation with Iran, saying in a phone conversation with The Hill on Sunday, April 5, that deploying US ground troops remains a possibility.

Asked directly whether he would rule out sending forces into Iran, Trump responded with a blunt “No,” signaling that even the most aggressive option is still on the table as tensions continue to rise.

Trump signals restraint not guaranteed despite deal optimism

In the same conversation, Trump presented diplomacy as the obvious choice while hinting at severe consequences if it fails.

“Normal people would make a deal. Smart people would make a deal,” he said, before reiterating, “If they were smart, they would make a deal.”

Even as he talked up the chances of an agreement, Trump made it clear that restraint should not be assumed.

He indicated that if talks collapsed, US action would not be narrowly defined, suggesting that key infrastructure in Iran could become targets.

Over the course of the weekend, Trump suggested a deal could come together quickly at one point, saying it might happen by Monday, while also warning that failure to reach an agreement would trigger sweeping retaliation.

“There is a good chance,” he said of a deal, before adding a stark alternative: “If they don’t make a deal, I am blowing up everything over there.”

Pressure builds as conflict intensifies

The situation has been further complicated by recent developments on the ground.

The downing of a US F-15E Strike Eagle over Iran marked a significant escalation, even as both crew members were eventually recovered following search-and-rescue operations.

Trump’s latest comments come after a series of increasingly aggressive statements in recent days.

In a social media post earlier on Sunday, he warned that Iran could face direct strikes on critical infrastructure if it failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” he wrote, before escalating further: “Open the Strait, you crazy people, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!