Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said Iranian forces are fully prepared to confront any arrival of US troops.
Speaking to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Ghalibaf criticized US President Donald Trump for expressing interest in negotiations while allegedly planning a ground offensive against Iran, reports Al Jazeera.
“The enemy is publicly talking about negotiations while secretly preparing for a ground attack,” he said, warning that Iranian forces are ready to confront US soldiers if they enter the country.
Earlier, US media reported that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks-long ground operations in Iran. The report followed an announcement by the US military that around 3,500 troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit have been deployed to the Middle East.