US military planning has centered on options for renewed airstrikes and naval pressure against Iran rather than ground operations to seize territory, amid ongoing indirect talks through Qatari mediators and US demands for nuclear concessions. President Trump has publicly weighed resuming major combat operations before or after the November 2026 midterms, with carrier groups deploying to the region, yet senior officials and analysts emphasize the substantial logistical, political, and resource barriers to any occupation of Iranian soil. Iran’s economic strain from the blockade and sanctions has prompted proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for relief, sustaining trader expectations that escalation will remain below the threshold of territorial control through the end of 2026.