The US could be moving toward a ground invasion of Iran, a dangerous escalation that risks a wider war with no easy exit.

• A huge defense budget request, plus an extra $67 billion for war costs, is seen as a sign Trump wants to keep fighting.
• The US air campaign appears aimed at cutting off Iran's coastal areas, which some read as setup for a ground invasion.
• Iran has hit hardened US bases in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait, suggesting help from Russia and China and far stronger capabilities than expected.
• Trump is using threats and bluster to scare Iran, but this raises the risk of an accidental slide into a much bigger conflict.
• Israel is again hinting at its nuclear weapons, and claims about Iran moving enriched uranium could be used to justify a strike.

Outlook: If US troops start dying and gas prices keep rising, an already unpopular war could turn into a serious political problem for Trump.