Iran responded boldly on Sunday to reports that US ground forces may be preparing for the next phase of its plans to eradicate its nuclear weapons ambitions and stranglehold in the Strait of Hormuz.
“As long as the Americans pursue Iran’s surrender, our response is that we will never accept humiliation,” the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said on Sunday.
Iranian forces “are waiting for the arrival of US forces on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever,” he added.
“Our shooting continues. Our missiles are in place. Our determination and confidence have increased.”
TRUMP SEEKS WAR CROWDS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO HELP STRAIT OF HORMUZ
A recent Washington Post report states that the US is considering a ground operation in Iran. (Vanderwolf Images via Getty)
The speaker’s statements came in response to a report from The Washington Post claim that the Trump administration and the War Department are preparing alternatives for Trump to deploy ground forces, perhaps to secure remnants of Iran’s intended nuclear program or to stamp out further Iranian aggression to free up oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint.
The Post reported Saturday, citing anonymous sources, that the Pentagon is preparing options for possible U.S. ground operations in Iran, which could last weeks if Trump approves an escalation. The plans reportedly call for limited incursions by special operations and conventional forces rather than a full-scale invasion, with possible targets including Kharg Island and coastal weapons sites near the Strait of Hormuz.
“It is the Pentagon’s job to prepare to give the commander in chief maximum freedom of choice,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Post in a statement, echoing comments made at a news conference this week. “It doesn’t mean the president has made a decision.”
Reuters reported separately that the administration has considered sending thousands of additional troops to the region and that Trump has considered deploying ground troops to capture Kharg Island. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States is currently not suited for ground operations, which would give Trump “maximum” flexibility, but said the objectives could be achieved without them.
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The prospect of U.S. troops entering Iran remains politically divisive and militarily dangerous, with analysts warning that even a limited seizure of territory could expose U.S. forces to continued counterattacks and complicate efforts to quickly end the war.
Washington has deployed thousands of Marines to the Middle East, with the first of two contingents arriving Friday aboard an amphibious assault ship, the US military said.
LEAVITT SAYS GROUND TROPES IN IRAN ARE NOT CURRENTLY CONSIDERED, DOES NOT RULE IT OUT
The United States said last week it had offered Iran a 15-point ceasefire plan, including a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and limit Iran’s nuclear program, but Tehran has rejected the list and submitted its own proposals.
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, there are also concerns about shipping lanes around the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea after Yemen’s Houthis entered the fray.
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Trump has threatened to hit Iranian power plants and other energy infrastructure if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz, although he extended a deadline by 10 days.
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Iranian threats against ships have prevented most oil tankers from entering the waterway. Iran has agreed to allow an additional 20 Pakistani-flagged ships to pass through the strait, with two ships allowed to pass daily.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
