Trump accused of preparing for ground invasion of Iran as 3500 troops arrive in region

Iran has accused US President Donald Trump of gearing up for a possible ground invasion of Iranian territory. The Pentagon is said to have been preparing for “weeks of ground operations”, after around 3,500 US personnel, including Marines, arrived in the region.

The personnel arrived in their thousands aboard the USS Tripoli warship, US Central Command confirmed. In a direct threat, Iran says its forces are prepared and poised for US troops to attempt a ground invasion, warning that they would fiercely resist and “engulf” American forces if they attempt to step foot on Iranian soil. In a message published to mark 30 days since the start of the war, speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said: “The enemy signals negotiation in public, while in secret it plots a ground attack.”

He continued: “Our firing continues. Our missiles are in place. Our determination and faith have increased.” The parliament speaker said Tehran is “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire”.

Marking a month since the conflict began, the Iranian politician said that Tehran’s message is “clear” and it will not surrender or accept “humiliation”.

He accused the US of having “a 15-point list”, of “setting out its wishes and pursuing what it failed to achieve in the war”.

Mr Ghalibaf is said to be someone the US has identified as a potential leader to front negotiations with Iran in light of the uncertainty surrounding newly-appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamene.

Trump has sent a series of mixed messages this week about the duration of the war. Over the past couple of days he said he was considering whether to take further action against Iran but on the flip side the 79-year-old leader said the war was nearly over.

US media reported that he appears ready to request $200 billion (£150 billion) in emergency funding from Congress to support the ongoing Iranian military operation, signaling a clear intention to continue the conflict in the Middle East.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office last week that he was not sending ground troops to Iran, but added: “If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you”.

This evening, Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, said Pakistan would soon host talks between the US and Iran.

In a televised speech he said: “Pakistan is very happy that both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan’s facilitation”, adding that the talks would take place in the “coming days”.

However, neither the US or Iran has commented on these potential peace talks.