Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) left a Senate Armed Service Committee briefing on the Iran war with a statement that the Trump administration appears to be on a path towards deploying American troops on the ground in Iran. The senator expressed dissatisfaction and anger over the lack of answers from the administration regarding the cost of the war and threats posed to American lives. He also warned of potential Russian aid to Iran's regime, suggesting that Russia may be aiding Iran in intelligence and possibly other ways. The administration has not yet ruled out putting American troops in Iran, raising the stakes of the conflict and political risks in an election year.