UK Media: As US Forces Arrive in the Middle East, Iran Says Its Troops Are "Waiting for American Soldiers"

With an additional 3,500 US troops arriving in the Middle East, Iran's Parliament Speaker warned that Iranian forces are "waiting for American soldiers."

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran would unleash firepower against any US military personnel attempting to enter Iranian territory.

The US Central Command said on X that the newly arrived sailors and Marines belong to units led by the US "Tripoli," including amphibious assault and transport ships.

As US forces arrive, The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks-long ground operations inside Iran. US officials have not yet confirmed whether ground troops will be deployed.

According to Iranian state media, Ghalibaf also said: "The enemy is releasing signals for negotiations on the surface but secretly plotting a ground attack."

Recently, President Trump issued conflicting messages about when the war might end. Over the past few days, he has alternately claimed the war is nearly over while also indicating he is considering further actions against Iran, including measures targeting energy sectors.

Early last week, US media reported his administration was preparing to seek $20 billion (15 billion pounds) in emergency funding from Congress to support ongoing military operations in Iran—indicating his desire for the campaign to continue.

Last week, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he had not sent ground troops to Iran, but added: "If I did, of course I wouldn’t tell you."

In parallel, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that although the US could achieve its war objectives without deploying ground forces, Trump needs to "prepare for multiple contingencies."

According to US officials cited by The Washington Post, if the White House approves a potential ground operation, it could involve raids combining regular forces with special operations units—but still avoid a full-scale invasion of Iran.

US news site Axios reported that the Pentagon is developing military options for a "final strike" against Iran, possibly involving both ground forces and bombing campaigns.

As part of its broader actions against Iran, the US has already made multiple deployments in the Middle East, including bombers and fighter jets, aircraft carriers, and missile defense systems.

Due to a fire onboard that caused injuries to sailors and significant damage, the US Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, arrived in Croatia on Saturday for repairs.

It remains unclear whether peace talks have ever taken place between the US and Iran.

Iran denies having held such discussions. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the two sides had exchanged messages through intermediaries, though he emphasized these communications were "neither dialogue nor negotiation, nor anything similar."

Trump, meanwhile, claimed negotiations are underway and "going very well." He asserted that Iran is afraid to acknowledge these talks because "they believe they would be killed by their own people."

According to multiple reports, Trump has relayed a 15-point plan via Pakistan to Iran aimed at ending the current conflict.

Although the official version of the plan has not yet been released, it is reportedly a compilation of demands long made by the US and Israel to Iran, including requiring Iran to abandon its nuclear program.

Tehran has presented its own demands, including recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz, compensation for war damages, and the removal of US military bases in the Middle East.

Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the US is "presenting its own desires through a 15-point list and pursuing goals it failed to achieve during the war."

Since the air strikes launched by the US and Israel starting February 28, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other senior Iranian officials have been killed. According to data from HRANA, a New York-based human rights advocacy group, more than 1,551 Iranian civilians have died due to bombings so far.

In retaliation, Iran has attacked Israeli and US military bases across the Middle East, disrupting international air traffic hubs and driving up oil prices.

Sources: BBC

Original: toutiao.com/article/1861105306818569/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author