“Unleash hell”: US prepares ground attack on Iran

Information was provided by the Washington Post and, shortly afterwards, by the president of the Iranian Parliament.

The President of the Iranian Parliament, Mohamed-Bagher Ghalibaf, said this Sunday that the United States is planning a ground offensive while publicly conducting diplomatic efforts to end the war.

“The enemy publicly sends messages of negotiation and dialogue, while secretly planning a ground offensive,” said Ghalibaf, former commander of the Revolutionary Guard, in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.

This Saturday, the same information was given by the North American newspaper, which cites official North American sources, which say that the Pentagon is preparing for a possible multi-week ground operationif President Donald Trump decides to worsen the conflict.

According to the plan allegedly being studied, this would not be a large-scale invasion, but rather limited incursions conducted by special forces and conventional infantry units.

Among the targets discussed within the US administration are the main Iranian oil export platform in the Persian Gulf, and other coastal areas close to the Strait of Hormuz, where Washington suspects there are weapons capable of threatening commercial and military ships.

The White House insists, however, that no decision has been made. But the administration’s messages have been contradictory. While Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have suggested that the war may be nearing an end and that military objectives can be achieved, the White House has also toughened its tone toward Tehran. Presidential spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt admitted that Trump has not yet decided, but warned this week that if the Iranian regime does not abandon nuclear ambitions and threats against the United States and its allies, Trump is prepared to “unleash hell.”

In the last thirty days, 13 US military personnel have died on duty, including victims of a drone attack in Kuwait and an attack in Saudi Arabia.

For the president of the Iranian Parliament, the signs of rapprochement shown by the United States over the last week “are nothing more than a cover to hide preparations for a land invasion”, ensuring that the Iranian Army is prepared to face this operation.

“But the enemy […] It ignores that our men are waiting for the arrival of American soldiers to attack them and punish their regional allies forever”, said the leader of the Iranian Parliament, dominated by ultraconservatives.

Conflict “at the most delicate moment”

In his assessment of the current situation of the war, Ghalibaf stated that the conflict is going through “the most delicate moment”, since the President of the United States, Donald Trump, declared that the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, under total control of Iran, has become an “operational priority”, given the economic scenario that lies ahead, with one energy market “out of control” and “imminent food inflation”.

“Trump has been accused of waging a senseless war in the world and has no answer for public opinion. The evil of starting a war has turned against those who started it”, added the president of the Iranian Parliament.

The statements come in the context of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran, mediated by Pakistan (they also involve Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey), and after Trump’s announcement, made on Thursday, that he was postponing until April 6 the ultimatum given to Iran to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, under penalty of destroying its power plants.

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt are meeting to discuss the situation in the Middle East.