19:19 05-04-2026

US Ground Invasion of Iran Unlikely, Analyst Says

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Ex-US intelligence officer Scott Ritter says a US ground invasion of Iran is unlikely, citing Tehran’s long-term defense planning and high risks of losses.

A full-scale ground invasion of Iran by the United States is highly unlikely, according to military analyst Scott Ritter, a former intelligence officer in the U. S. Marine Corps.

In his assessment, Iran has spent the past two decades preparing for a defensive campaign and is now operating according to a long-developed plan, while the United States is forced to adapt to that strategy. Ritter argued that a large-scale land operation would not take place, warning that such a scenario could lead to catastrophic losses.

At the same time, he did not rule out the possibility of a limited operation. However, he stressed that any such move would require a clearly defined objective. In his view, a raid could only be justified if it delivered a tangible result-such as seizing a significant portion of Iran’s enriched uranium reserves-followed by a rapid withdrawal.

Ritter also dismissed as unrealistic the scenarios discussed in political and media circles involving a potential U.S. attempt to capture Iran’s Khark Island. He suggested that such plans lack practical viability and would likely result in heavy casualties.

Earlier reports indicated that Iran has been intensifying preparations for a possible ground conflict amid a large-scale deployment of U. S. Marine and airborne units to the Middle East. In Tehran, mobilization efforts are reportedly being reinforced with reference to the experience of the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s.