In a statement issued on Sunday, March 29, Enrahim Zolfaqari warned the US against any ground invasion of Iran, saying such a move would result in severe and humiliating consequences for American forces.
He referred to repeated threats by US President Donald Trump regarding possible ground operations and the occupation of islands in the Persian Gulf, describing such plans as unrealistic. He stated that the US president had been influenced by external pressures and accused him of adopting inconsistent and unreliable positions.
The spokesperson noted that US leadership has entrusted military command to an individual whose decisions have placed American forces in a “deadly quagmire,” adding that US troops in the region were already facing serious threats on a daily basis.
He further stated that American forces have retreated from destroyed bases and sought refuge in civilian and economic centers in regional countries, while still remaining vulnerable to attacks.
Addressing the prospect of a ground invasion, Zolfaqari said Iranian forces have long been prepared for such a scenario and are waiting to respond. He warned that any act of aggression or occupation would lead to outcomes including capture, fragmentation, and disappearance of invading forces.
He added that US commanders and soldiers would ultimately become “food for sharks in the Persian Gulf,” emphasizing the severity of the consequences.
The spokesperson also urged US leaders to study Iran’s history and learn from past encounters with foreign invaders, cautioning against misguided decisions that could lead to large-scale casualties among American forces.
He concluded by stating that Iran’s Armed Forces stand ready and would decisively confront any practical attempt to carry out such threats.
The US and the Israeli regime launched a large-scale unprovoked military campaign against Iran following the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military commanders and civilians on February 28.
The attacks have involved extensive aerial strikes on both military and civilian locations across Iran, causing significant casualties and widespread damage to infrastructure.
In response, the Iranian Armed Forces have carried out retaliatory operations, targeting American and Israeli positions in the occupied territories and at regional bases with waves of missiles and drones.