Le Monde with AFP
Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on Sunday, March 29, accused the United States of plotting a ground attack despite talking about diplomacy, after a US warship with around 3,500 military personnel arrived in the Middle East.
Ghalibaf's comments came after more than a month of joint US-Israeli aerial bombings on Iran and ahead of talks between key regional players on Monday. The war has escalated into a regional conflagration as Iran has retaliated with attacks on Gulf states, sending energy markets into a tailspin and threatening the world economy.
"The enemy publicly sends messages of negotiation and dialogue while secretly planning a ground attack," Ghalibaf said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency. "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," he added.
Ghalibaf also called for unity among Iranians on Sunday, saying the country was in "a major global war" that was "at its most critical stage." "We are certain that we can punish the United States, make it regret attacking Iran, and firmly secure our legitimate rights," he said.
Pentagon reportedly preparing plans for ground operations
The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship carrying around 3,500 marines and sailors, arrived in the Middle East on Friday.
The Washington Post reported the Pentagon has been preparing plans for weeks of ground operations – potentially including raids on Kharg Island and sites near the Strait of Hormuz – though US President Donald Trump has yet to approve any deployment.
Iran says it has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane which accounted for a quarter of the world's seaborne oil trade, to hostile shipping.
US claims 15-point peace plan 'could solve it all'
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly spoken of diplomatic contacts with Iran, although these claims has been denied by Tehran.
Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff has said a US-Iran meeting could take place soon, and promoted a 15-point plan that Washington says "could solve it all."
Pakistan, which has acted as a go-between for Washington and Tehran, will host foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt in Islamabad for talks about the crisis on Monday.
Strikes on both sides of the Gulf
In Tehran, two blasts shook the city early on Sunday, an AFP journalist said, although it was not clear what was targeted.
The Qatari news channel Al Araby said an Israeli missile hit the building housing its office in the city. Footage from inside the office showed broken windows and shattered glass. Outside, images showed the streets covered in debris and damage to surrounding buildings.
Iranian state media reported that US-Israeli strikes also hit a quay in the port city of Bandar Khamir, near the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Iran fired a volley of missiles and drones at plants belonging to two of the world's largest aluminium producers in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, the Revolutionary Guards said Sunday, targeting what they described as industries linked to the US military.
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) said an Iranian attack wounded six and caused significant damage to its plant, while Bahraini state media said two Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA) employees were injured in a second attack.
Le Monde with AFP
