US signals readiness for prolonged conflict as troop build-up continues, while unverified blast footage shared by Trump fuels speculation over fresh strikes inside Iran.
A still from a video posted by Donald Trump on Truth Social shows a massive explosion, reportedly linked to strikes in Iran, though details remain unconfirmed. | Truth Social/@realDonaldTrump
US President Donald Trump on Monday shared a video showing a massive explosion on his platform Truth Social, without offering any details, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to surge.
The post comes at a time when the US has confirmed additional troop deployment in West Asia, signalling a dual-track approach: military preparedness alongside ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict with Iran.
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The White House said the latest troop movements are aimed at giving the President strategic flexibility as the conflict unfolds.
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Addressing a press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the deployment ensures “maximum optionality” for the commander-in-chief.
“The president is focused on achieving the objectives of Operation Epic Fury with respect to forces that are on the ground in the Middle East. It’s the job of the Pentagon to create maximum optionality for the commander-in-chief,” she said.
Leavitt added that while Trump has been repeatedly asked about the possibility of ground operations, he has not ruled them out.
“The president has been asked about boots on the ground or alleged ground operations various times. He’s obviously declined to rule them out. It’s the Pentagon’s job to provide maximum optionality to the president; it does not mean he’s made a decision, nor would he ever notify the media of such a decision so as not to tip off our enemy,” she said.
The video shared by Trump comes amid reports of fresh strikes in Iran, though he did not confirm the location or timing of the explosion.
Media reports have linked the footage to blasts in Isfahan, allegedly following US-Israeli strikes on an ammunition depot. However, there has been no independent confirmation of the video’s authenticity.
According to The Wall Street Journal, US forces may have used 2,000-pound bunker-buster bombs in the strike, triggering powerful secondary explosions.
The development follows Trump’s earlier statement calling it a “big day in Iran”, where he claimed that US forces had destroyed key targets.
“Many long-sought-after targets have been taken out and destroyed by our GREAT MILITARY,” he said in a post.
He also claimed that Iran’s naval and air capabilities had been severely degraded and hinted at the possibility of regime change.
Amid rising tensions, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of secretly preparing for a ground invasion.
“We are waiting for their arrival; we will set them ablaze and punish their regional partners forever,” he said, warning Gulf countries supporting US operations.
The latest developments come as reports suggest the Pentagon is preparing for the possibility of extended ground operations in Iran, potentially lasting several weeks, if the conflict escalates further.
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