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Haaretz: NBC says Trump has serious interest in US ground troops in Iran

On 6 March 2026, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz published U.S. Fast-tracks $151.8 Million Weapons Sale to Israel Without Congress Approval, bylined to Ben Samuels and Reuters in Washington. The headline is an arms sale. The kicker above it, and the only paragraph that loaded, are about something else: NBC News reported that President Donald Trump had "serious interest" in putting U.S. ground troops in Iran. An American family should care about that lead, not the dollar figure.

Background for new readers: On 28 February 2026 the United States and Israel began a joint air war on Iran. The Pentagon calls its part Operation Epic Fury; Israel calls its part Operation Roaring Lion. It came eight months after a shorter war in June 2025, when US bombers hit Iran's nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The question running through this section is whether the air war turns into American soldiers fighting on Iranian soil. This article is filed under Pentagon Ground Plans 2026; the full article index lists every article on this shelf.

Evidence rating: MODERATE. The rating covers NBC News's report, carried by Haaretz, that President Trump privately showed "serious interest" in deploying US troops on the ground inside Iran, sourced to two US officials, a former official, and another person with knowledge of the conversations. The White House attacked the sourcing but did not deny the interest, saying the President "always, wisely keeps all options open."

What the article says​

The Haaretz page that loaded carries this kicker: Trump reportedly has serious interest in deploying ground troops to Iran. The deck under the headline is about the air war, not a landing. It says the White House said the United States needed four to six more weeks to finish its operations in Iran and was well on its way to "controlling Iranian airspace." It says the U.S. defense establishment insisted the bombing of Iran could continue "indefinitely."

The first paragraph says NBC News reported the "serious interest," citing current and former U.S. officials and another source familiar with Trump's private talks with White House aides and Republicans. The paragraphs after that did not load.

The NBC article Haaretz links was opened separately. NBC's own lead, dated 6 March 2026, says Trump had privately expressed serious interest in deploying U.S. troops on the ground inside Iran. NBC names its sources as two U.S. officials, a former U.S. official, and another person with knowledge of the conversations. NBC reports that the talk was about a small contingent for specific jobs, not a large-scale invasion, and that Trump had not made a decision or given an order on ground troops. NBC also reports that, in an interview with NBC, Trump suggested he was not seriously considering a ground invasion at that time. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt had said ground troops remained an option but were "not part of the plan for this operation time," NBC wrote.

The same NBC article carries the White House denial.

This story is based on assumptions from anonymous sources who are not part of the President's national security team and are clearly not read into these discussions.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, in a statement NBC News published on 6 March 2026. She added that Trump "always, wisely keeps all options open," and that people claiming he favored one option had no real seat at the table.

NBC also reported that six U.S. service members had been killed and 18 wounded in Iranian counterattacks since the war began the previous Saturday, according to the Pentagon. That figure is NBC's as of 6 March.

What other reporting adds​

Trump's own answer to NBC. In a phone interview with NBC the same week, as the Palestine Chronicle reported it, "the president said sending ground troops to Iran would be a waste of time" (as quoted by @half_witt on X; research capture: twitter/t50__v590.md). One pro-Trump commentator summarized the week: "Trump publicly called the idea of ground troops in Iran a 'waste of time' right now, saying they've 'lost everything' already (NBC interview, March 6)." (@voyagerr2 on X, 7 March 2026; research capture: twitter/t50__v599.md).

The next day, on Air Force One. "Could there be? Possibly, for a very good reason. Have to be a very good reason." (PolitiFact, 9 March 2026; research capture: twitter/t48__v574.md). So within about 48 hours the record holds NBC's sources saying "serious interest," Trump calling ground troops "a waste of time," the White House saying "all options open," and Trump saying "Possibly."

A related claim that was denied. The Jerusalem Post reported on 7 March that "CENTCOM denies claims US troops taken prisoner in Iran," after posts said Americans had been captured (The Jerusalem Post, as headlined on Threads; research capture: twitter/t50__v600.md).

What it shows​

On the same page, an Israeli newspaper paired two things: a fast-tracked weapons sale to Israel without congressional approval, and the President's private interest in putting American soldiers inside Iran. Within about 48 hours the record held NBC's sources saying "serious interest," Trump calling ground troops "a waste of time," the White House saying "all options open," and Trump saying "Possibly, for a very good reason." Two weeks later CBS reported detailed Pentagon preparations for ground forces in Iran. See Pentagon Ground Plans 2026 and No Boots on the Ground.

Check it yourself​

Last Updated: 2026-09-26

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