Hegseth: US aims to be ‘unpredictable’ in putting boots on ground in Iran

The Hill
by Ellen Mitchell
March 31, 2026
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3 min read

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Defense Secretary Hegseth says U.S. will remain unpredictable on possible ground troop deployment into Iran.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the U.S. military intends to remain "unpredictable" regarding the possible deployment of American troops to Iranian territory, stating the administration will not rule out any military option. His comments came during a Pentagon briefing in response to questions about potential ground operations and criticism from Trump supporters concerned about escalation. The remarks reflect the Trump administration's approach of maintaining strategic ambiguity toward Iran as tensions remain elevated in the region. Hegseth's statement signals the White House is keeping open the possibility of direct military intervention on the ground, a significant escalation from previous postures toward Tehran.

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