JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A channel 14 report in Israel reveals increasing assessments by military analysts that the United States is in advanced stages of preparation for a ground invasion of Iran. The Pentagon has decided to conceal troop deployment data from Congress, a move that would give U.S. President Donald Trump a free hand in executing a ground maneuver.

The classified report was supposed to detail the movement of divisions and heavy equipment in the Middle East. Without it, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are left without the ability to oversee the scale of forces being amassed in the Gulf ahead of the operation, according to a report published Wednesday night in Politico.

Concealing the deployment allows the Pentagon to make rapid positional changes and prepare logistical infrastructure for a ground landing without bureaucratic delays. As part of the covert operation, the U.S. is redirecting shipments of heavy weapons, armored combat vehicles, and specialized ammunition for ground maneuvering under a heavy veil of secrecy, in Operation “Epic Fury.”

The commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, stated officially that the operation is “on track or ahead of schedule.” These remarks strengthen the assessment that the aerial phase, in which most of Iran’s missile array was destroyed, was only a prelude to a ground entry.

The deliberate concealment has sparked criticism among members of Congress. The chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Mike Rogers, argued that lawmakers are not receiving clear answers regarding the objectives of the deployment. According to him, the lack of information prevents Congress from fulfilling its oversight role over the defense budget.

Senior officials in Europe have expressed concern over the massive diversion of resources toward a potential invasion of Iran, noting: “It’s no secret that the ammunition being used now is exactly what we all need to procure in large quantities.” Allied countries fear that the American focus on a ground maneuver against Iran is leaving European and Asian theaters exposed.

The decision to hide deployment plans follows weeks of escalation, during which the Israeli Air Force destroyed most of Iran’s ballistic missile array. The destruction of Iran’s strategic capabilities paved the way for a ground maneuver without a significant threat to invading forces. Recently, Iran intensified its aggression and launched missile barrages at U.S. bases, a move seen in Washington as a final trigger for a ground decision.

The Pentagon’s move marks a break from decades of transparency with Congress. The Trump administration is shifting toward centralized and covert management of military power to ensure a swift victory.

The decision to conceal deployment plans and accelerate preparations for an invasion comes alongside negotiations with Iran that are beginning today. The covert military move is intended to create maximum leverage at the negotiating table from the outset, signaling to the leadership in Tehran that any delay or lack of progress in the diplomatic channel will lead to the immediate use of ground maneuver forces.

In Washington, the talks launching today are viewed as a final opportunity. Therefore, troop concentration was completed under tight timelines to ensure that the diplomatic option is backed by a lethal military alternative ready for immediate execution.

Additionally, according to a report in The Washington Post, the U.S. administration is considering taking control of Kharg Island, which serves as Iran’s economic “lifeline,” through which about 90% of its oil exports pass. The goal is to use the island as leverage against Tehran. In response, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, issued a sharp warning: “If enemies cross the lines, all vital infrastructure of any regional country that assists them will become a target.”

At the same time, in Tehran preparations are underway for the possibility of a U.S. invasion, which is seen there as a strategic opportunity. Iranian commentators argue that the deployment of U.S. forces on Iranian soil would allow the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to capture soldiers, publicly humiliate Washington, and gain significant leverage. A former IRGC commander, Hossein Kanani Moghaddam, even claimed that “killing or capturing American soldiers” could lead to impeachment proceedings against President Trump.