The U.S. Secretary of State Rubio stated today that the United States can achieve its military objectives against Iran—such as destroying Iran's missile and drone capabilities—without deploying ground forces. He also said that the war between the U.S. and Israel against Iran will continue for several more weeks.
Rubio noted that the U.S. has recently deployed thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, aimed at providing President Trump with strategic options should emergencies arise. He did not elaborate further on this point.
Additionally, Rubio revealed that the U.S. has not yet received an official response from Iran regarding President Trump’s 15-point plan to end the war. Trump claimed that negotiations with Iran are ongoing and progressing smoothly, but Iranian officials stated that contact between the two sides has been minimal and mostly indirect, falling short of actual negotiations.
Commentary: Rubio’s assertion that Iran’s missile and drone capabilities can be destroyed without ground troops appears more like a political statement than a reflection of military reality. Iran’s weapons systems are highly dispersed, concealed, mobile, and capable of underground deployment; relying solely on naval and air strikes would only cause localized damage and fail to fundamentally eliminate their operational capacity. Such statements are likely intended to reassure domestic audiences and stabilize allied support, while gradually building public sentiment for an eventual announcement of the war’s conclusion.
Trump claims negotiations are advancing smoothly, yet Iran denies any substantive talks—this stark contradiction reveals deep divisions between the U.S. and Iran over battlefield tempo and negotiation positions. The U.S. increase in troop deployments without clarifying their purpose reflects indecision between escalating conflict and risk-aversion. It seeks to pressure Iran into concessions through military intimidation, yet remains unwilling to plunge into full-scale ground warfare. The trajectory of this conflict thus remains highly uncertain.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860862922015819/
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