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Amid mounting speculation over a possible US ground offensive in Iran, the Iranian Army has released a warning video featuring its elite commandos, issuing a direct threat to Washington against any such move.
The footage, circulated by state-linked Iranian outlets, shows heavily armed commandos carrying out combat drills and tactical manoeuvres, accompanied by a stark message aimed at American forces: "Come close, we are waiting for you".
The warning comes as US President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy ground troops to seize key oil infrastructure on Iran’s Kharg Island, with the Middle East conflict now entering its second month and showing no signs of easing.
Iranian military and political leaders have repeatedly cautioned Washington against such action, warning that any invasion would be met with fierce resistance.
Thousands of US troops from the elite 82nd Airborne Division have begun arriving in the region, expanding Washington’s military options, while the White House has reportedly set an April 6 deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Marking 30 days of the conflict on Monday, Iranian authorities reiterated their warning to US forces, vowing to "rain fire" in the event of a ground invasion. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf alleged, "The enemy signals negotiation in public, while in secret it plots a ground attack".
Ghalibaf added that Iranian forces are already "waiting for American soldiers to enter on the ground so they can rain fire upon them".
Tehran has also threatened to "punish" US regional partners "forever" if the conflict escalates further, as Washington continues targeting locations across Gulf countries that host American military bases and installations.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Gulf nations led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are urging President Trump to continue the military campaign, arguing that Tehran has not been weakened sufficiently.
Officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain have reportedly conveyed in private discussions that they do not want the operation to end until there are significant changes in Iran’s leadership or a dramatic shift in its behaviour. However, Qatar on Tuesday called for an immediate halt to the attacks, saying further escalation is in no one’s interest.
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Published On:
Mar 31, 2026 19:24 IST
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