Iran signals readiness for ‘US ground operations’ as MoU expires | Donald Trump News
Tehran, Iran – Iranian officials are indicating a potential shift toward a more aggressive stance in their conflict with the United States as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) expires. The MoU, which established a brief ceasefire, is set to officially end on Monday after hostilities resumed nearly a month ago.
In a televised address on Sunday, Brigadier General Yadollah Javani, head of the political bureau of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that his forces are prepared to take necessary actions to protect the country. He characterized recent defensive efforts but suggested that they could evolve into offensive operations, saying, “The enemy started the war… they should expect strategic surprises.”
While Javani did not specify the nature of these offensive actions, last week, IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi noted that U.S. and allied infrastructure, including energy networks and power plants, may be targeted if the U.S. conducts strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure.
Discussions among hardline Iranian politicians and media have included the possibility of launching ground assaults against U.S. interests in Bahrain and Kuwait if there is a U.S. invasion of Iran. However, analysts question the feasibility and implications of such moves, and there is no indication that the U.S. currently plans ground operations in Iran.
This assertive posture follows Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s consolidation of power, which included appointing several IRGC veterans to significant military positions last week. Khamenei stated that Major General Ahmad Vahidi’s ascent to IRGC commander must balance “maximum deterrence” with the readiness for “powerful offensive operations against the enemy.”
Vahidi claimed that Iran’s military has succeeded in “bringing to its knees the most heavily armed army in world history” in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes that began on February 28, escalating conflict between the nations.
U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated claims of Iranian defeat during a recent press briefing, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz would soon be declared U.S. territory, a comment later described by the White House as a joke. In contrast, Iran’s Army Chief Amir Hatami offered a $30,000 reward for any individual who captures or kills a U.S. soldier during a ground operation in Iran.
“Our hands are open in terms of reaching the aggressors and will become more open through our initiatives,” Hatami stated, referencing Iranian attacks against U.S. forces in Jordan.
Mohsen Rezaee, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, suggested that the U.S. might consider ground operations against Iran but has been deterred by inadequate planning. He noted that the U.S. Central Command avoided attacks on Tehran or northern Iran during a recent escalation, focusing instead on middle regions of the country.
Rezaee underscored the logistical challenges of a ground invasion, emphasizing the need for a significantly larger troop presence to successfully secure the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian military leadership has reported preparations to safeguard key islands and coastal regions in southern Iran, reinforcing defenses near critical oil export terminals.
Military spokesman Mohammad-Reza Akraminia warned that if American forces land on Iranian territory, the response would be swift and severe. Authorities are also preparing for potential unrest from separatist groups along Iran’s borders with Iraq and Turkey, as well as with Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In a separate interview, Javani stated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain partially closed until the U.S. fulfills commitments under the expired MoU. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that the ceasefire period mentioned in the MoU was not expressly stated in the agreement’s language. It dismissed the idea that the expiration carries significant implications for ongoing U.S. relations or talks with Oman regarding the Strait.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf characterized the MoU as a “document of pride and victory in the field of diplomacy” and proclaimed that Iran has emerged victorious both politically and militarily from its ongoing conflict with the U.S. and Israel. However, Ghalibaf has yet to persuade Iranian leadership to pursue a long-term diplomatic resolution to the hostilities.
