An Iranian army spokesperson warned on Tuesday that Iran would bomb its own territory rather than allow US forces to occupy it, as threats of a potential ground operation by either side raised fears of a broader war across the Persian Gulf.
"If America occupies our territory, we will even bomb our own territory," Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami-Nia said on Iranian state television. "This is the logic of war."
The remarks came as US Central Command marked the 10th consecutive day of strikes against Iranian targets. US President Donald Trump is expected to decide in the coming days how to proceed, with the prospect of a US ground operation or seizure of Iranian territory now openly discussed.
The Pentagon is preparing options for ground operations in Iran that would fall short of a full invasion but could involve thousands of troops and take weeks or months, the Washington Post reported, citing unnamed US officials. The White House said the Pentagon was working to give the president "maximum optionality" but that "this does not mean the president has made a decision."
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, now a member of parliament, said Iran should go further than striking US bases in the region and consider capturing American soldiers.
