Iran has issued a strong warning to the United States over its growing military footprint in the Middle East, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf saying Tehran is closely tracking every move on the ground.
In a post on X, Ghalibaf said Iran is “closely monitoring” American activity in the region, particularly troop deployments, signalling heightened vigilance amid rising tensions.
He also suggested that US forces could end up paying the price for decisions taken by their leadership. In a sharp remark, he said American soldiers may ultimately become victims of what he described as Benjamin Netanyahu’s “delusions,” hinting at Israel’s influence over regional developments.
Reaffirming Iran’s stance on sovereignty, the senior leader warned Washington against any provocation, stressing that Tehran would not hesitate to defend its territory.
The remarks come as reports indicate a possible escalation in US military presence. While Donald Trump has claimed that talks with Iran are underway and that the conflict could soon be resolved, the Pentagon is reportedly preparing to deploy troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.
According to media reports, the planned deployment could include a command unit along with ground forces, with the total number of troops likely to remain below 1,500.
This development appears to contradict the White House’s public messaging. Trump had earlier said negotiations were progressing and suggested that Iran was keen on striking a deal, while also asserting overwhelming US military superiority.
He claimed that Iran’s military infrastructure had been largely dismantled and said the US had the ability to carry out strikes at will, describing Tehran as “totally defeated” militarily.
However, Iran’s position paints a very different picture. In a video released by Fars News Agency, a military spokesperson mocked Washington’s stance, suggesting that the US was effectively “negotiating with itself.”
The spokesperson argued that what the US once projected as strategic strength had now turned into a setback, cautioning against portraying defeat as a diplomatic breakthrough. He also claimed that global opinion is increasingly divided, with people unlikely to be swayed by what he described as Western media narratives.
He further warned of long-term consequences for the region, including shifts in economic dynamics and energy markets, asserting that stability would only come through Iran’s military strength.
Reinforcing its position, Tehran also released visuals from the latest phase of “Operation True Promise 4,” showing missile launches targeting US-Israeli positions, even as Washington continued to signal openness to negotiations.
Iran has denied that any talks are currently underway, maintaining that any path to peace depends on an end to what it calls the US-Israel campaign in the region.
