Iranian officials have escalated their rhetoric as concerns grow over the possibility of a wider regional conflict, with military and political figures discussing responses to a potential US ground operation. Speaking on Iranian state television, Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami-Nia declared that Tehran would rather strike its own territory than allow it to fall under American control. "If America occupies our territory, we will even bomb our own territory. This is the logic of war," he said.
The remarks came as US Central Command entered its 10th consecutive day of strikes against Iranian military targets. Fresh attacks overnight targeted command centers, missile and drone launch sites, maritime assets, and air defense systems, while Iranian state media reported explosions across several areas in the country's south. President Donald Trump is expected to decide on the next phase of the US campaign in the coming days. According to reports, the Pentagon has prepared several military options, including limited ground operations that would stop short of a full-scale invasion but could require thousands of troops and last for weeks or months. The White House has said military planners are providing the president with "maximum optionality," while stressing that no final decision has yet been made.
