WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has quietly completed a set of operational concepts for a limited ground campaign in Iran that could last “several weeks” if ordered by the president, according to four defense officials with direct knowledge of the planning.
The concepts, circulated inside the Joint Staff late last week and briefed to senior civilian leaders on Monday, envision the rapid deployment of two armored brigade combat teams supported by Marine expeditionary forces, the officials said. The notional mission would focus on destroying Revolutionary Guard command nodes and missile sites thought to be orchestrating attacks on U.S. personnel in the Gulf.
“This is prudent military planning, nothing more,” a senior defense official told reporters on background Tuesday evening. “No decision has been made to employ U.S. ground forces inside Iran.” National Security Council spokesperson Maria Gonzales declined to comment on “deliberative and classified” matters but said President James Keller “continues to pursue every diplomatic avenue to reduce regional tensions.”
The accelerated planning follows a series of drone and rocket strikes on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria that the Pentagon attributes to Iran-backed militias. Last month’s attack on Al-Tanf garrison, which wounded nine American service members, “crossed a threshold,” said a U.S. Central Command official, adding that CENTCOM was asked to present “scalable” response options that now include a ground component.
Defense analysts note that Washington routinely updates contingency plans for adversaries, including Iran, North Korea and China. “What is noteworthy here is the time frame,” said Katherine Morton of the RAND Corporation. “A 20- to 30-day construct signals the Pentagon believes it can achieve defined objectives quickly without triggering a protracted occupation.”
On Capitol Hill, the prospect of another Middle Eastern ground war drew a swift response. “Congress must be consulted before any combat troops cross that border,” said Sen. Allison Drake, D-Ore., a member of the Armed Services Committee. Her Republican counterpart, Sen. Mark Redfield of Texas, argued that “credible force posture is the only language Tehran understands.”
For now, the plans remain locked in a classified portal awaiting a possible presidential directive. Officials said allied capitals in London, Paris and Riyadh have been given broad outlines but no request for troop contributions. Should the president approve the concept of operations, deployment orders could be issued “within 96 hours,” one planner said.
Whether the White House moves beyond planning will likely hinge on Iran’s next steps — and on the administration’s calculus heading into a contentious election year.