Iran warns of ‘Ground War’ as US deploys troops amid intensifying air strikes

WEB DESK: The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has issued a defiant warning to Washington, accusing the United States of preparing a ground invasion despite its public calls for a negotiated settlement.

The statement comes as the Trump administration reportedly deploys thousands of military personnel to the Middle East, including the arrival of 3,500 troops aboard the USS Tripoli, according to Al Jazeera.

Mr Ghalibaf’s rhetoric reached a fever pitch on Sunday, with the official IRNA news agency quoting him as saying that Iranian forces are “waiting” for American soldiers to arrive on the ground to “set them on fire.”

These comments coincide with a significant escalation in hostilities, as the US-Israel conflict with Iran enters its fifth week, marked by heavy bombardment of Iranian infrastructure and rising civilian casualties.

Infrastructure crippled and universities targeted

Tehran and its surrounding regions, including Alborz province, were plunged into darkness on Sunday following what the Ministry of Energy described as “attacks on electricity industry facilities.”

While authorities worked to restore power via backup substations, the outages have heightened fears that the US is following through on President Donald Trump’s threats to strike energy hubs if his “maximalist” 15-point peace plan is not accepted.

The human cost of the air campaign is also mounting. The Iranian Ministry of Health reports that over 2,000 people have been killed since the start of the war, including 216 children. Educational institutions have become a flashpoint; a university in Isfahan was struck for the second time on Sunday, wounding four staff members.

According to the Ministry of Education, at least 250 students and teachers have died in strikes on some 600 educational facilities. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to retaliate by targeting US or Israeli universities within the region.

Escalation on the coast and cross-border fire

Military tensions are now shifting toward a potential maritime and ground escalation. Reports from The Washington Post suggest the Pentagon is drafting plans for “limited ground operations,” which may include raids on the strategic Kharg Island crude export hub and coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has countered these moves by demanding “sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz” as part of a five-point peace proposal that also calls for an end to the targeted killings of Iranian officials.

On the kinetic front, there is no sign of a ceasefire. Israel’s military confirmed detecting seven missile salvoes fired from Iran on Sunday, timed to coincide with rocket attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon.

While many projectiles were intercepted, an industrial zone south of Beersheba was hit, striking a pesticide plant. As the April 6 deadline set by President Trump approaches, the region remains on a knife-edge, caught between the prospect of a devastating ground war and a high-stakes diplomatic ultimatum.