Trump rules out US ground troops in Iran, says he told Netanyahu to avoid gas field strikes

US President Donald Trump steps of Marine One as he returns to the White House on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is returning from a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/AFP

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he was not sending ground troops to Iran, weeks after he launched massive missile and bombing attacks alongside Israel.

"If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you. But I'm not putting troops," Trump told reporters as he met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

He also praised Japan's efforts related to the Iran war, saying he had received an assurance of support.

"I believe that, based on statements (which) were given to us yesterday, the day before yesterday, having to do with Japan, they are really stepping up to the plate, yes -- unlike NATO," Trump said.

Trump said he also asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to carry out attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure.

"I told him, don't do that, and he won't do that," Trump said.

"We get along great. It's coordinated, but on occasion, he'll do something" that the United States opposes, he added.

Iranian attacks on the world's largest LNG plant in Qatar and refineries in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait sent shock waves through energy markets Thursday as the US said there was no time frame to end the Middle East war.

Amid growing fears over the economic damage from the war, Trump said Iran's key South Pars gas field would not be attacked again, after Israel struck it on Wednesday, but warned of a furious American response if Tehran did not end its attacks on Qatari energy sites.

Tehran responded that it would have "zero restraint" if its own energy infrastructure was hit again.

Oil markets have already been shaken by Iran's blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, but prices surged again amid fears of further attacks on energy sites.

Earlier in the day, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said there is no "time frame" for ending the US-Israeli war against Iran, which was launched three weeks ago.

"We wouldn't want to set a definitive time frame," Hegseth told a news conference, adding that "we're very much on track" and that President Donald Trump will be the one to decide when to stop.

"It will be at the president's choosing, ultimately, where we say, 'Hey, we've achieved what we need to.'"

Hegseth also addressed a report that the Pentagon has requested more than $200 billion in additional funding from Congress to pay for the conflict.

"As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move. Obviously it takes money to kill bad guys," Hegseth said.