Trump: 'We're not ready to leave Iran yet, but we will in very near future' — also says he's not afraid of sending ground troops

President Trump made two significant public statements on Day 18 regarding US military posture on Iran. He stated the US is 'not ready to leave Iran yet, but we will in the very near future' — the clearest public signal of a planned exit timeline from the US-led air campaign. The statement implies an endpoint to the conflict is being planned rather than the US committing to indefinite operations. Trump also said he was not afraid of sending ground troops to Iran if necessary — a threat intended to pressure Iran toward accepting terms, while the exit statement suggests the primary goal may be near completion. Together the two statements sketch a potential endgame: intensified pressure to force Iran to capitulate, followed by a withdrawal. The statements come on the same day that the first senior Trump administration official — NCTC Director Joe Kent — resigned over the war, citing lack of imminent threat from Iran and Israeli influence over US policy.