Iran’s parliament speaker has accused the United States of orchestrating a ground invasion despite ongoing public calls for a diplomatic resolution, as Washington accelerates the deployment of thousands of military personnel to the Middle East. The warning comes as the US-Israel war on Iran enters its fifth week, characterized by a volatile cycle of aerial bombardments and regional missile exchanges.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaking in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency on Sunday, signaled a readiness for direct combat. “Our men are waiting for the arrival of the American soldiers on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional allies once and for all,” Ghalibaf said. The rhetoric coincides with reports of significant power outages across Tehran and the neighboring Alborz province, which the Iranian Ministry of Energy attributed to strikes on electricity industry facilities.
The escalation follows a report from The Washington Post indicating that the Pentagon is preparing for limited ground operations. These potential raids are expected to target strategic sites, including Kharg Island—a critical hub for crude oil exports—and coastal installations near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital shipping chokepoints.
Adding to the military build-up, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday that approximately 3,500 military personnel have arrived in the region aboard the USS Tripoli. Further reinforcements from the army’s 82nd Airborne are expected as the Trump administration shifts its posture toward more aggressive containment and strike capabilities.
Civilian Infrastructure and Educational Targets
The human cost of the conflict is mounting rapidly. Iran’s Ministry of Health reports that 2,076 people have been killed since the outbreak of hostilities, including 216 children. The violence has increasingly touched civilian and academic centers, with the Israeli military confirming the deployment of more than 120 munitions on weaponry research and production sites in Tehran on Sunday.
Academic institutions have become flashpoints in the conflict. A university in Isfahan reported being struck by US-Israeli air strikes for the second time, leaving four staff members wounded. This follows an attack on the University of Science and Technology, prompting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to threaten retaliatory strikes against universities in Israel or the US.
Hossein Sadeghi, head of the Information and Public Relations Center at Iran’s Ministry of Education, stated that at least 250 students and teachers have been killed amid strikes on 600 educational facilities across the country. The strikes have also impacted international media; a commercial building housing Qatar’s Al-Araby TV in Tehran was hit Sunday, causing extensive structural damage.
“It was a real miracle we survived,” said Al Araby camera operator Mohammadreza Shademan. “There was no military target here.”
Regional Sprawl and Economic Risks
The conflict has expanded beyond the borders of Iran and Israel, drawing in several Gulf nations and non-state actors. Iran and Hezbollah have coordinated missile salvoes into northern Israel, triggering sirens in over 100 towns. One such missile hit the Makhteshim plant of pesticide maker ADAMA in the Neot Hovav industrial zone, south of Beersheba. While no casualties were reported, the strike raised alarms due to the proximity of pharmaceutical factories and hazardous waste disposal sites.
Across the Gulf, the United Arab Emirates reported intercepting 16 ballistic missiles and 42 drones, while Saudi Arabia downed 10 drones. In Jordan, the Iranian army claimed to have targeted the Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Azraq, launching drones at military equipment sites and living quarters.
The entry of Yemen’s Houthis into the fray further complicates the geopolitical landscape. Following strikes on Israel on Saturday, there are growing fears that the group could block the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, mirroring previous disruptions in the Red Sea that affected commercial traffic valued at approximately $1 trillion annually.
Diplomatic Deadlock and the April Deadline
Despite the military escalation, diplomatic channels remain open, though they appear increasingly strained. Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia recently met in Islamabad to discuss de-escalation strategies. However, the gap between Washington and Tehran remains wide.
President Donald Trump has presented a 15-point peace plan, which critics have labeled as “maximalist.” While Trump extended the deadline for Tehran to agree to the deal by 10 days—now through April 6—the administration has simultaneously threatened to strike Iranian power stations and energy infrastructure if a deal is not reached.
In response, Iran has proposed its own five-point plan focusing on compensation and sovereignty. The two competing frameworks highlight the fundamental disagreement over the future of the region’s security architecture.
| US 15-Point Plan (Proposed) | Iran 5-Point Plan (Proposed) |
|---|---|
| Maximalist security demands | Financial compensation for damages |
| Deadline for agreement: April 6 | Halt to killings of Iranian officials |
| Threats to energy infrastructure | End to all hostilities |
| Regional containment focus | Sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz |
As oil prices fluctuate and the global economy feels the pressure of the instability, the focus now shifts to the April 6 deadline. Whether the US-Israel war on Iran moves toward a negotiated settlement or a full-scale ground confrontation will likely depend on the next 10 days of diplomacy and the movement of the 82nd Airborne.
This is a developing story. For official updates on regional security and diplomatic filings, monitor the official communications from the US State Department and the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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