Iran Threatens to Burn U.S. Troops if Trump Invades by Land

Iran has made a bold statement, asserting its readiness to confront any potential ground invasion by U.S. troops and issuing a warning that it would “set fire” to American forces if they were to enter the Islamic Republic’s territory. This declaration comes from Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Iran’s parliament, who expressed this sentiment in a message broadcast on Iranian state media, including the official IRNA news agency, on Sunday.

The statement follows reports that the Pentagon is awaiting President Donald Trump’s approval for ground operations in Iran, as reported by the Washington Post. These developments have heightened tensions in the region, with the U.S. military taking action by moving thousands of sailors and marines to the Middle East aboard the USS Tripoli warship, according to a confirmation from the U.S. Central Command.

Ghalibaf, who has been seen as a potential figurehead for negotiations in Iran due to the absence of the newly-appointed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, criticized the U.S. for what he described as a public show of negotiation while secretly plotting a ground attack. He emphasized that “our firing continues. Our missiles are in place. Our determination and faith have increased,” highlighting the ongoing conflict that has lasted a month.

In addition, Iran has warned of intensifying attacks in the Gulf, with Ghalibaf stating that America’s allies will also face consequences as Iran will “punish their regional partners forever.” He dismissed the U.S.’s 15-point plan as an attempt to achieve what it failed to accomplish during the war, reiterating that Tehran’s stance is clear: it will not surrender or accept “humiliation.”

Meanwhile, Houthi rebels in Yemen have continued their attacks on Israel, launching a second wave of missiles less than 24 hours after the first. The militia has previously targeted ships in the Red Sea corridor leading into the Suez Canal, and their involvement in the conflict has raised concerns about further disruptions to global shipping amid the chaos caused by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The European Union’s maritime security body has issued a warning for ships to avoid entering Yemeni territorial waters, citing the possibility of the Houthis resuming “attacks on merchant ships” in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as noted in a report published on Saturday.

Oil prices are showing signs of a record monthly surge, with Brent crude on track to break records in March, according to data from the London Stock Exchange Group analyzed by The Guardian. This surge marks a significant increase of 51% compared to previous months. The previous record for oil price surges was set in September 1990 when the price of crude rose by 46% during Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent First Gulf War.

In an effort to address the ongoing crisis, Pakistan hosted talks with regional powers on Sunday, aiming to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. Representatives from Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia were involved in discussions to propose solutions for improving maritime traffic to Washington, according to sources familiar with the matter, as reported by Reuters.

Strikes across the Middle East continue, with 10 army personnel injured following an attack on a military camp in Kuwait. The country’s army confirmed the incident in a post on X on Sunday, noting that the camp sustained material damage but did not disclose its location. Over the past 24 hours, Kuwait’s army reported dealing with 14 ballistic missiles and 12 drones.

An Iranian missile attack on a U.S. airbase in Saudi Arabia damaged several aircraft, including a valuable command and control E-3 Sentry aircraft, which was pictured split in two. Ghalibaf mocked reports that the damage had been “minor.”

An American official informed Reuters on Friday that an Iranian military attack on the airbase had resulted in the injury of 12 U.S. personnel, with two of them seriously wounded, as reported by The Wall Street Journal and New York Times, citing unnamed officials.

In Israel, Adama, a manufacturer of active ingredients and crop protection materials, announced that its Makhteshim plant in southern Israel had been hit by an Iranian missile or debris from a missile on Sunday. Adama, part of the Chinese-owned Syngenta Group, stated that the extent of the damage to the plant was not immediately known, and no injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, Iran’s state media shared a message from Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, thanking the Iraqi people and their leadership for their support against U.S.-Israel “aggression.”