‘Trump has to open the Strait of Hormuz’ with ground forces

Kenneth Katzman has argued that the Trump administration would need to deploy ground forces to achieve its war objectives in Iran, particularly to secure the Strait of Hormuz, since air power alone cannot accomplish those goals. Katzman, a Middle East policy expert, is suggesting that controlling the strategic waterway—through which roughly one-fifth of global oil passes—would require a ground invasion rather than airstrikes or other air-based operations. The assessment underscores the military complexity of any potential Iran conflict and the scale of commitment such an operation would demand. The Strait of Hormuz has long been a flashpoint in US-Iran tensions, with Tehran repeatedly threatening to block the passage if provoked. Any escalation involving ground forces would mark a dramatic shift in US military posture in the region and would have significant implications for global energy markets and regional stability.