President Donald Trump clarified his stance on the ongoing conflict in Iran Monday, telling the New York Post that he is "nowhere near" ordering boots on the ground to secure enriched uranium. Reports had suggested the U.S. and Israel were weighing special operations raids to seize stockpiles at the Isfahan nuclear complex, but Trump emphasized that no such decision has been made. "We haven’t made any decision on that. We’re nowhere near it," the President said during a phone interview.
The comments follow a Saturday press gaggle aboard Air Force One where Trump noted that any ground deployment would require a "very good reason." He warned that if such a move were made, the Iranian military would be "so decimated" they wouldn't be able to fight at a ground level. This "Peace Through Strength" posture comes as Operation Epic Fury enters its second week, having already neutralized key Iranian naval assets and missile production sites.
On Sunday night, Iran’s Assembly of Experts officially named Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new Supreme Leader. Trump was quick to condemn the selection, telling the Post he is "not happy" with the appointment of the younger Khamenei. "Not going to tell you. Not going to tell you. I’m not happy with him," Trump said when asked about his potential response to the new leadership.
The President has made it clear that any new Iranian leader must have Washington's sign-off to remain in power. Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Trump warned that a successor who does not secure U.S. approval is "not going to last long." He framed this requirement as a strategic necessity to prevent the U.S. from being forced back into a similar conflict every few years.
While the regime in Tehran has dismissed Trump’s remarks as an internal matter, the administration is standing firm on its demand for a "Great and Acceptable" leader to bring Iran back from the brink. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this sentiment, noting that the "terroristic regime" is currently trying to hold the world hostage. The U.S. remains focused on ensuring that Tehran never acquires a nuclear weapon, a goal the President says is "ahead of schedule."
As the conflict intensifies, the administration’s focus remains on the complete destruction of Iran’s offensive capabilities. Trump’s refusal to rule out special forces operations—while maintaining that ground troops are a distant option—keeps the regime guessing. For the White House, the ultimate goal is a decisive end to the threat and a more prosperous future for the Iranian people under acceptable leadership.