Iran’s parliament speaker issued a direct threat Sunday to American forces, warning that Iranian fighters are “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever” — the most explicit challenge yet from Tehran since the U.S.-Israeli air campaign began five weeks ago.
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf made the remarks hours after The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is drafting options for potential ground operations in Iran, including limited Special Operations raids targeting Kharg Island and coastal weapons sites near the Strait of Hormuz.
“As long as the Americans seek Iran’s surrender, our response is that we will never accept humiliation,” Qalibaf said, as per Fox News. “Our firing continues. Our missiles are in place. Our determination and faith have increased.”
The threats came as 3,500 U.S. Marines arrived in the region Friday aboard an amphibious assault ship, with a second contingent still en route. Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst reported Sunday that the deployment is positioned for possible ground operations.
The White House declined to confirm or deny the ground forces planning. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement: “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander in chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the president has made a decision.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States is not currently postured for ground operations but has not ruled them out. Rubio said U.S. military objectives can be achieved without boots on the ground — while keeping Trump’s options open.
A ceasefire proposal from Washington that included 15 conditions, covering Hormuz access and restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program, was rejected by Tehran last week. Iran submitted counter-proposals of its own but has not publicly disclosed the terms.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels entered the conflict Saturday, firing drones and ballistic missiles toward Israel in what U.S. and Israeli officials confirmed was the first such attack since the air campaign began. The Houthis had previously paused strikes on Israel following a ceasefire deal brokered in 2025. The resumption opens a new front and raises fresh questions about Iranian command-and-control over its proxy network as U.S. forces draw closer.
The 82nd Airborne has also deployed to the region. Military analysts have cautioned that urban and coastal terrain near the Strait of Hormuz is well-suited for the kind of hit-and-run guerrilla tactics Iranian forces have prepared for over decades.
