Iran has issued a strong warning to the United States amid reports of potential ground operations, as additional American troops continue to arrive in the Middle East.
In a video message, Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari criticised the U.S. leadership, warning of severe consequences.
“Unfortunately, the leaders of the United States have delegated the authority to command the armed forces to someone who, due to imbalance, dangerous and wrong positions and decisions, has led the US army into the swamp of death,” he said.
The warning comes as the Pentagon is reportedly considering limited ground operations involving special forces and conventional troops, though not a full-scale invasion.
Donald Trump has not approved any such plans and has publicly dismissed the idea of deploying troops. “I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you, but I’m not putting troops,” he said previously.
Despite this, about 3,500 additional U.S. personnel have entered the region, deployed as part of a unit led by the USS Tripoli (LHA-7).
Iranian officials have also reiterated their readiness to respond militarily. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said:
“[The armed forces]… are waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever. Our firing continues. Our missiles are in place. Our determination and faith have increased.”
The tensions follow recent strikes in Tehran, which reportedly damaged infrastructure, including a power pylon, leading to outages in parts of the capital. Iran has also escalated its rhetoric by warning it could target U.S.-linked institutions in the region, including universities, in retaliation for attacks on its own facilities.
Attention has also turned to Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, a key strategic location handling a significant share of Iran’s crude oil exports, as speculation grows over possible targets in any future operation. While military planning continues, officials in Washington have stressed that no final decision has been made, and any potential ground action remains under consideration.