Trump feared US troops would become ‘sitting ducks’ if they invaded Iran’s Kharg island: Report

US President Donald Trump resisted sending troops to seize the Iranian Island of Kharg, despite being told the mission could succeed, citing concerns over potential casualties, saying the American troops would be “sitting ducks” for Iranian armed forces, a report says.

According to the report by The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, Trump made the decision after Iran shot down an F-15 fighter jet over its sky and stranded its pilots.

After being informed that an American jet had been shot down with two airmen missing, Trump “screamed at aides for hours” and repeatedly said, “The Europeans are not helping.”

He also referred to the "Iran hostage crisis," warning, “If you look at what happened with Jimmy Carter… it cost them the election,” the report said.

In 1980, then-US president Jimmy Carter sent special forces into Iran to retrieve the captured US spies.

However, most of their aircraft carrying troops were destroyed due to extreme weather in central Iran, forcing them to abandon the mission.

Trump demanded immediate action but faced logistical challenges as US forces have not operated on the ground in Iran since 1979.

Press TV Exclusive: US suffered major strategic defeat in failed Isfahan operation

Information obtained by Press TV regarding the recent operation by the American-Israeli coalition in the central Isfahan province reveals a major strategic defeat for the enemy.

Aides kept Trump out of the room during minute-by-minute updates on operations involving Iran, instead briefing him at key moments because they believed his impatience would not be helpful, a senior administration official told The Wall Street Journal.

It later became clear that this operation had no connection to the claimed rescue of a downed F-15 fighter pilot, a narrative initially pushed by American officials.

Instead, evidence examined and confirmed by Press TV indicates that the real objective was to infiltrate and attack one of Iran's nuclear facilities in Isfahan, which ultimately failed.

The criminal US-Israeli aggression against Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders, including the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Iranian armed forces responded by launching daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region.

Furthermore, Iran retaliated against the strikes by closing the Strait of Hormuz, which resulted in a significant increase in oil prices and its by-products.

On April 8, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) announced that there was an agreement to a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire after the US accepted Iran’s 10-point proposal.

A high-ranking delegation from Iran led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf participated in the negotiations with the US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance.

Despite 21 hours of intensive discussions, the negotiations ended without an agreement, with Iran citing “excessive demands” from the US side.

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