Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. James Carafano has argued against a full-scale U.S. ground invasion of Iran, describing such an operation as unrealistic and strategically unsound.
Speaking during an interview on Fox News on Monday, July 20, 2026, the Heritage Foundation senior counselor said Iran’s size and geography would make it extremely difficult for any occupying force to control the country.
Carafano dismissed suggestions that Washington should launch a land invasion, arguing that such a move would require a massive military commitment while offering little prospect of success. He also suggested Tehran may be seeking to draw the United States into a conflict that favors Iran.
Instead, he said the U.S. should continue its current strategy of conducting targeted military operations to weaken Iran’s capabilities rather than committing troops to a prolonged ground war.
According to Carafano, the existing approach has already reduced Iran’s military capabilities and its ability to threaten regional security, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, without exposing large numbers of U.S. troops to the risks of occupation.
“This is a country the size of Texas. We could put every American in uniform in the middle of Iran and not control the country,” Carafano said.
