According to Ebrahim Zolfagari, the official spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, Iranian forces have long been prepared for the possibility of a US ground operation. He warned that any American incursion would meet an extremely harsh response, saying US troops would face destruction, capture, and total defeat.

Zolfagari also made it clear that, in his words, American commanders and soldiers would become prey in the Persian Gulf.

Earlier, The Washington Post reported that Washington was continuing to build up its forces in the Middle East, with a particular focus on units capable of fighting on the ground.

A day earlier, US Central Command announced the arrival of the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli in the region. On board are 3,500 Marines, along with transport and strike aircraft and assault landing forces.

Journalists also report that units from the 82nd Airborne Division are expected to be deployed to the region in the coming days. That would bring the new US reinforcement to more than 10,000 troops, on top of the 50,000 American personnel already stationed across the Middle East, including some of Washington’s most combat-ready units.