Trump accused of preparing for ground invasion of Iran | World | News
Iran accused US President Donald Trump of preparing for a possible land invasion of Iranian territory. The Pentagon is said to be preparing for “weeks of ground operations” after approximately 3,500 US personnel, including Marines, arrived in the region.
US Central Command confirmed that thousands of personnel arrived aboard the USS Tripoli warship. As a direct threat, Iran says its forces are ready and prepared for US troops to attempt a ground invasion, warning that they will violently resist and “engulf” American forces if they attempt to set foot on Iranian soil. In a message commemorating the 30th day since the start of the war, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammed Bagher Galibaf, said: “The enemy is secretly planning a ground attack while publicly signaling negotiations.”
He continued: “Our fire continues. Our missiles are in place. Our determination and faith have increased.” The parliamentary speaker said Tehran was “waiting for American troops to arrive on the field to set them on fire.”
The Iranian politician, who has spent a month since the conflict began, said Tehran’s message was “clear” and that it would not surrender or accept “humiliation”.
He accused the United States of having “a list of 15 items” and “putting forward its own wishes and pursuing what it could not achieve in the war.”
Mr. Galibaf is said to be someone the United States has identified as a potential leader in preliminary talks with Iran, in light of the uncertainty surrounding newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Trump sent a series of mixed messages this week regarding the duration of the war. The 79-year-old leader, who said that he had been thinking about whether to take further steps against Iran in the past few days, also said that the war was almost over.
US media reported that he appeared ready to request $200bn (£150bn) in emergency funding from Congress to support the ongoing Iranian military operation, signaling a clear intention to continue the conflict in the Middle East.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office last week that he would not send ground troops to Iran, but added: “If I did, I certainly wouldn’t tell you.”
This evening, Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan will soon host talks between the United States and Iran.
“Pakistan is very happy that both Iran and the United States have expressed their confidence in Pakistan’s facilitation,” he said in a televised speech, adding that the talks would take place “in the coming days.”
However, neither the United States nor Iran has commented on these potential peace talks.
