Key facts
- US military planners have drafted options for a ground invasion of Iran.
- President Trump has not dismissed the possibility of such an operation.
- Iranian military officials have vowed retaliation against any US ground incursion.
- Some Iranians see a potential US invasion as a path to liberation from the current regime.
- Others fear a US operation would lead to widespread destruction and suffering for the Iranian people.
- Concerns exist about potential Iranian retaliatory strikes on US allies in the Gulf.
US military planners have reportedly drawn up options for a ground operation in Iran, a prospect that President Donald Trump has not ruled out. This has ignited a sharp debate within Iran about the potential consequences of foreign boots on its soil, with opinions divided between liberation and catastrophe.
Iranian military officials have issued stern warnings. Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami-Nia, an army spokesperson, stated that any US entry onto Iranian territory would trigger a military response. Lawmaker Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani further suggested that Tehran could launch ground operations against US allies in the Gulf, including Kuwait and Bahrain, if US forces entered Iranian territory.
President Trump has previously escalated rhetoric, threatening Iran with a "massive attack" after an interim deal failed, leading to renewed fighting. Euronews spoke to five Iranians whose views highlight the deep divisions within the country.
Ali, a construction worker, does not believe a US ground invasion is feasible or desirable, citing the immense pressure already on ordinary Iranians and the potential for increased suffering. He noted that support for military action had waned after a previous conflict failed to destabilize the government. He dismissed the idea of Iranian ground operations against Gulf states, calling the era of ground warfare over.
Jamshid, a newsstand owner, sees a US entry into southern Iran or its islands as a possibility. While acknowledging the potential for significant damage to infrastructure and suffering for all Iranians, he stated he might support intervention if it led to the fall of the Islamic Republic or forced an agreement, comparing it to China's post-Mao transformation. He believes any occupation would be a humiliating defeat for the regime, but noted he knew no one who would fight alongside US soldiers.
Laleh, a sociology teacher, thinks the US could occupy parts of Iran's southern coast or islands, and that the Islamic Republic would struggle to retake them. She believes occupation would not necessarily bring down the government but would compel it to negotiate to recover territory.
Parichehr, a lawyer, does not expect a ground operation due to Iran's size but expressed personal support for the presence of American forces as a last resort, given that other paths for improvement under the Islamic Republic have appeared closed for nearly 50 years. She cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions from the experiences of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Morteza, a mechanic, considers a US ground attack impossible, predicting only missile strikes. However, he stated that if Iran were occupied, he and his family would fight to defend their country, regardless of their views on the government, likening it to defending one's home. He believes the Islamic Republic should remain in power for now due to the uncertain economic situation and the unknown consequences of its collapse.