A US invasion of Iran could include an attack on the naval base near Bandar Abbas, establishing control over the coast, Kharg Island or Iranian nuclear material, The Wall Street Journal reports.
According to current and former US officials, US President Donald Trump has not yet ordered the deployment of troops.
Any of these missions would be complex and dangerous and would carry the risk of significant losses for the US military, the publication notes.
Kharg Island contains floating oil storage tanks. It is a strategically important terminal, accounting for approximately 90% of Iran's crude oil exports.
According to the newspaper, the US could also deploy forces on islands in the “bend“ of the Strait of Hormuz, including Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb. Reaching the islands would be difficult: American ships would have to navigate in shallow waters, surrounded by Iranian forces and potentially mined.
The Wall Street Journal notes that the United States could deploy more than 17,000 ground troops to Iran's borders if Trump gives the green light. However, according to Vice Admiral (Retd.) John Miller, former commander of US Naval Forces Middle East, such forces are insufficient to hold the position for any length of time.
Retd. General Joseph Votel, former commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) and US Special Operations Command, believes that the Americans will need intelligence and surveillance assets, as well as logistical support and the ability to evacuate the wounded.
According to Votel, the operation could take from several days to a week. "This is not a situation you can get into quickly," he said.
Former Pentagon and US Special Operations Command official Seth Jones said that if the Americans fired hypersonic anti-ship missiles, they could reach mainland Iran in seconds.
In mid-March, The Wall Street Journal reported that the US was considering using Marines to seize one or more islands off Iran's southern coast to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The Financial Times and Newsmax previously reported on the accelerated deployment of thousands of Marines and warships to the Middle East.
The Wall Street Journal's Alex Ward, citing three Republicans in Congress, reported that the US has already planned a ground operation in Iran, which could begin soon.
Axios also previously reported that the US administration is exploring plans to occupy or blockade one of the islands. According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, if the US tries to seize Kharg Island, Iran could launch an “unprecedented“ response.