Pentagon making detailed preparations for potentially sending U.S. troops into Iran, sources say

CBS News
March 20, 2026
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3 min read

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Pentagon is developing detailed plans for potential ground troop deployment into Iran.

How This Affects You

A ground deployment in Iran could involve U.S. military personnel in direct combat operations, affecting service members and their families and potentially broadening regional military commitments.

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The Pentagon is developing detailed contingency plans for a potential U.S. ground force deployment into Iran, according to sources who spoke with CBS News. The planning represents a significant escalation in military preparation beyond current air and naval operations in the region. Such a deployment would mark a dramatic shift in U.S. military posture and would likely have major geopolitical consequences, particularly given existing tensions between the United States and Iran. The scope and timing of any actual deployment remain unclear, and the plans appear to be precautionary rather than imminent orders. The reporting comes as the Trump administration continues to navigate complex Middle East dynamics involving Iran, Israel, and regional allies.

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The combat forces would come from a brigade of about 3,000 soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours.

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