Iranian officials have hinted that forces could move into neighboring countries if US strikes resume, the Wall Street Journal reported, while talks over the Strait of Hormuz remain stalled.
Iran ground incursions into neighboring countries have been raised by Iranian officials as a possible response if the United States resumes strikes, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The newspaper cited people familiar with warnings passed to regional governments, as Tehran works to deter fresh US strikes on Iran after the midterm elections on November 3. According to Al Jazeera, the Iran war began on February 28 with US and Israeli air strikes.
What the Iran Ground Incursions Warning Says
According to the Wall Street Journal, as relayed by Iran International, some Iranian officials have privately suggested that forces could enter neighboring countries if US strikes resume. The report said Tehran has warned regional governments, in public and in private, that it would widen its response across the Middle East. The coverage reviewed by Tamrah News did not include a formal Iranian statement confirming the incursion warnings, and the Journal described them as hints. i24NEWS, summarizing the Journal, said Iran also told Arab officials that Saudi oil facilities could be hit if the Iran war resumes.
Threats Over Saudi Oil Facilities and Gulf States
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Sunday that Tehran could strike the United Arab Emirates, according to Ynet’s summary of the Journal report. He also named data centers and internet cables across the region as possible targets. Ynet noted that the UAE has largely avoided Iranian attacks since late spring. The same report said the Pentagon moved about 12 B1 bombers from a base in Britain last week over concerns that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard was planning a drone attack. The coverage reviewed did not include responses from Saudi or UAE officials.
How Iran Is Preparing at Home
i24NEWS reported that satellite images analyzed by the Institute for Science and International Security show Iran built dirt mounds around the Pickaxe Mountain and Natanz nuclear sites last month to obstruct any ground raid. Gholamreza Jalali, who oversees contingency plans, said airports, seaports and power plants “have prepared for wartime conditions.” The Times of Israel, also citing the Journal, reported that paramilitary members are visiting kindergartens to read stories about war and that civilians are being trained to use anti aircraft weapons.
Will the Iran War Resume After the US Midterm Elections?
No date for renewed fighting has been confirmed in the coverage reviewed. Fox News live coverage reported that President Donald Trump has vowed not to order further strikes on Iran before the November 3 vote. Diplomacy over the Strait of Hormuz has meanwhile stalled. According to Reuters, Iran presented a proposal at the UN General Assembly to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if seven conditions were met, and the United States replied through Qatari intermediaries.
Reuters reported on October 11 that Rezaei called the reply insufficient and said Iran is “no longer in the process of responding to the Americans.” On Monday, Reuters reported that Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran was still reviewing the reply and would answer through intermediaries. Reuters also noted that a June interim ceasefire collapsed and on and off strikes followed.
Earlier Warnings as Iran Warns Neighbors
Press TV, an Iranian state outlet, reported that Baghaei said on October 4 that any future use of regional soil to attack Iran would bring a different response, adding, “We are eternal neighbors.” Iran International reported on October 11 that Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran’s answer to any new military action would differ from its earlier responses. In March, Al Jazeera reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian urged neighboring states not to let Tehran’s enemies run the war from their territory.
This report on Iran ground incursions will be updated as new details are confirmed.
FAQs
Is Iran planning ground incursions into neighboring countries?
According to the Wall Street Journal, some Iranian officials have hinted that Iran ground incursions, also described as land incursions, could follow if US strikes on Iran resume. No formal announcement from the Iranian government appeared in the coverage reviewed.
Which Gulf states could be affected if the Iran war resumes?
Reports name the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Rezaei said Tehran could target the UAE, and the Journal reported that Iran warned Arab officials about Saudi oil facilities.
What did Iran say about Saudi oil facilities?
i24NEWS, summarizing the Wall Street Journal, reported that Tehran told Arab officials that Saudi oil facilities could be hit in renewed fighting.
Is the Strait of Hormuz open, and what does Iran want?
According to Reuters, Rezaei said Iran would not open the Strait of Hormuz to the United States, and no negotiations would take place, until its seven conditions are met.
When could US strikes on Iran resume?
No date has been confirmed. Fox News live coverage reported that Trump vowed no further strikes before the November 3 midterm elections.
What started the Iran war?
Al Jazeera reported that the war began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched air strikes across Iran.