ADDS MORE REMARKS BY WHITE HOUSE SPOKESWOMAN, DETAILS
By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - The White House said Wednesday that deploying US troops to Iran is not currently part of the Trump administration’s military strategy, while leaving open the possibility that options could change.
"Well, they're not part of the plan for this operation at this time," spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Her remarks came amid US-Israel strikes against Iran, which began on Feb. 28, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top security officials.
Tehran has responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and US-linked sites in Gulf countries. Six US service members have been killed and several others injured.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine was asked Wednesday about the possibility of deploying ground troops in Iran.
“I’m not going to comment on US boots on the ground. I think that’s a question for policymakers. And I don’t make policy, I execute policy." Caine told the reporters at the Pentagon.
The US is moving towards "complete and total control" of Iranian airspace, Leavitt said, adding that more than 2,000 targets have been struck.
Leavitt said President Donald Trump intends to attend the dignified transfer of six US service members "to stand in grief alongside their families."
"I understand the Department of War is working on scheduling this transfer, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time," she added.
Leavitt also backed the US objectives in the joint Israeli-US air campaign against Iran in the face of criticism that the administration has not shown proof of the supposed imminent threat Tehran posed to the US.
"This decision to launch this operation is based on a cumulative effect of various direct threats that Iran posed to the United States of America," she said, adding that "rogue terrorist regime" has been threatening the US for 47 years.
Leavitt said Trump is consulting with his national security team about the potential US role in Iran once the current military operations conclude.
"We've seen those reports as well, of course, and this is something that our intelligence agencies in looking at. The truth is, we'll have to wait and see," Leavitt said, when asked about media reports that said Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Khamenei, has emerged as a frontrunner to succeed him.
Asked about reports claiming the Trump administration has considered arming Kurdish forces in the hopes of an uprising in Iran, Leavitt said Trump held many calls with partners, allies, and leaders in the region in the Middle East.
"He did speak to Kurdish leaders with respect to our base that we have in northern Iraq. But as for any report suggesting that the president has agreed to any such plan is completely false and should not be written," she added.