Iran warns of US ground attack as war expands and casualties rise

Iran’s parliament speaker has accused the United States of preparing for a ground assault, escalating rhetoric as Washington increases its military presence in the region while continuing to signal openness to negotiations.

“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,” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday, in remarks carried by the state news agency IRNA.

The statement comes as the US-Israel war on Iran enters its fifth week, with both military activity and political messaging intensifying. Reports in The Washington Post suggest the Pentagon is considering limited ground operations, potentially targeting strategic sites such as Kharg Island, a key oil export hub, and coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz.

At the same time, the US is reinforcing its presence. US Central Command said about 3,500 troops have already arrived in the Middle East aboard the USS Tripoli, with additional deployments expected, including units from the army’s 82nd Airborne Division.

On the ground in Iran, the conflict is increasingly affecting civilian infrastructure. Power outages were reported in Tehran, surrounding areas and Alborz province after attacks on electricity facilities, according to Iran’s Ministry of Energy. Authorities later said supply was being restored.

It remains unclear whether those strikes were linked to recent warnings from President Donald Trump, who has threatened to target Iran’s energy infrastructure if Tehran does not agree to a deal. Washington has presented a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the conflict, while extending its negotiating deadline by 10 days to April 6.

Military operations continue to expand. The Israeli military said it dropped more than 120 munitions on sites in Tehran linked to weapons research and production. Iran’s Ministry of Health says 2,076 people have been killed since the start of the war, including 216 children.

Civilian areas have also been affected. Iranian media reported that six people were killed in a strike on a residential area in the village of Osmavandan, with multiple homes destroyed or damaged.

Educational institutions have been repeatedly hit. A university in Isfahan reported injuries to four staff members following a strike, the second such incident since the war began. A day earlier, Iran’s University of Science and Technology was also targeted.

Following those attacks, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it would retaliate by targeting two US or Israeli universities in the region, according to state television.

Iran’s Ministry of Education says at least 250 students and teachers have been killed and around 600 educational facilities damaged since the conflict began.

Media infrastructure has also been caught in the crossfire. A commercial building in Tehran housing Qatar’s Al-Araby TV was struck, with footage showing extensive damage.

As the humanitarian toll rises, Tehran is attempting to shape the diplomatic track. It has presented a five-point plan to the United States that includes compensation, an end to hostilities, guarantees against further conflict, a halt to the killing of Iranian officials, and recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.