Securing the shores of the Strait of Hormuz, taking the island of Kharg… What are the scenarios for a possible operation

From the account of senior officials from the US Department of Defense headquarters, as reported by the Washington Post, the Pentagon has been preparing for weeks for ground operations in Iran. On Saturday, the American command center finally confirmed that about 3,500 Marines and soldiers had arrived in the Middle East. These troops were equipped with amphibious and tactical assault elements.

This material precision further supports the hypothesis of a ground intervention. But where, how, and why? On March 30th, on his Truth Social network, Donald Trump continued to be vague about his plans, hinting at threats to conclude his “charming stay in Iran by blowing up and completely annihilating all their power plants, oil wells, and Kharg rule,” if discussions with Tehran did not yield quick results.

American military officials have hinted that the contingent may further strengthen, with at least 10,000 additional soldiers set to arrive in the coming days to deliver the final blow to Iran. The Wall Street Journal’s training images show highly trained troops capable of beach landings, parachute drops on islands, or embarking on ships for search and seizure operations.

“The arrival of these troops is Washington’s way of increasing pressure,” says General Jérôme Pellistrandi, editor-in-chief of Dèfense Nationale magazine. The United States seems to have ruled out a large-scale invasion of Iran, realizing the logistical and strategic difficulties such an endeavor would entail.

The most likely option appears to be punctual, targeted, brutal, and rapid operations that involve a combination of special forces and conventional infantry troops. The Pentagon is considering multiple operations, with the first one aiming to capture Kharg Island, a crucial oil terminal for Iran.

Another option discussed is raids on coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz to locate and destroy weapons targeting commercial and military navigation. These offensives may span several weeks or even months before completion, with high risks for deployed soldiers.

Extracting highly enriched uranium from Iranian nuclear facilities underground poses significant risks and challenges. Failure in such operations could escalate the conflict to a new dangerous phase, where the consequences are unpredictable.

Economically and politically, Donald Trump is aware of the stakes involved. Recent surveys show that a majority of Americans oppose deploying combat troops on Iranian soil. The situation remains tense, with the potential for a significant escalation if the operations do not go as planned.