The United States is weighing a significant expansion of military operations in the Gulf as the war with Iran intensifies, with plans under discussion to secure the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
According to a Reuters report, US officials are exploring options to ensure safe passage for oil tankers through the narrow waterway, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. The mission would largely rely on air and naval power, but officials have also discussed the possibility of deploying ground troops to Iran’s coastline if required. Such a move, sources quoted by Reuters say, would mark a major escalation and carry significant military and political risks.
Discussions have also included the prospect of sending US forces to Kharg Island, which handles around 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports. While the US has already struck military targets on the island, officials believe controlling the facility could be more strategically advantageous than destroying it outright. However, the island remains highly vulnerable to Iranian missile and drone strikes, making any ground operation risky.
Pentagon seeks over $200bn from White House
At the same time, the Pentagon has sought more than $200 billion from the White House to sustain and expand the war effort, according to reports. The request, which far exceeds the cost of the current air campaign, is aimed at replenishing rapidly depleting precision munitions and boosting weapons production.
The proposal is expected to trigger a fierce political battle in Congress, where public support for the war remains limited. While some Republicans have indicated backing for additional funding, the scale of the request — exceeding even recent US spending on Ukraine — raises questions about its viability.
The administration of Donald Trump has further examined options to secure Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpiles, a task experts describe as complex even for elite forces. A White House official said no decision had been taken to deploy ground troops, adding that the president “keeps all options at his disposal” while pursuing the objectives of the ongoing military campaign, including dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities and preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The deliberations come as US Central Command reports more than 7,800 strikes carried out since the war began on February 28, targeting Iran’s navy, missile systems and defence infrastructure, and damaging over 120 vessels.
The military and political calculations are unfolding against a rapidly deteriorating regional backdrop. Iran has intensified strikes on energy infrastructure across the Gulf, including in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, while oil prices have surged above $108 a barrel amid disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
