Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued the warning Sunday, March 29, stating that his country’s forces would “rain fire” on any US troops that attempt to cross onto Iranian soil.

The deployment, confirmed by US Central Command, includes specialized marines and sailors led by the warship USS Tripoli.

The move comes as reports surface that the Pentagon is preparing for potential ground operations, despite months of devastating airstrikes that have already killed more than 1,500 Iranian civilians.

The arrival of the new units follows a report by the Washington Post indicating that military officials are planning for weeks of ground activity. While the White House has not confirmed a deployment of ground forces, Ghalibaf accused Washington of deception.

“The enemy signals negotiation in public, while in secret it plots a ground attack,” Ghalibaf said in a message carried by Iranian state media.

In Washington, President Donald Trump has offered conflicting signals regarding the duration and intensity of the campaign. While suggesting the war could be nearing its end, he has also weighed further strikes on Iran’s energy sector.

Last week, when asked in the Oval Office about sending ground troops, Trump remained elusive.

“If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you,” the president told reporters.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted on Friday that the US could potentially meet its objectives without a ground invasion, but added that the administration had “to be prepared for multiple contingencies.”

According to the Washington Post, any approved ground mission would likely involve a combination of standard infantry and Special Operations forces. These units would reportedly conduct targeted raids rather than a full-scale invasion of the country.

Further reports from Axios suggest the Pentagon is drafting “final blow” options. These plans reportedly include an intensified bombing campaign alongside ground forces designed to break Iranian resistance.

The military build-up already includes a massive array of US bombers, fighter jets, and missile interceptors stationed across the region. However, the Navy's most advanced carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, was recently forced to dock in Croatia for repairs after a fire on board caused significant damage and injured several sailors.

As the military tension mounts, the status of diplomatic efforts remains a point of contention. Trump has claimed that peace talks are moving “very well” and alleged that Tehran is “afraid” to admit to negotiations for fear of domestic backlash.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has flatly denied those claims. While acknowledging that messages have been passed through intermediaries, Araghchi insisted they constituted “neither dialogue nor negotiation, nor anything of the sort.”

The US has reportedly used Pakistan as a mediator to deliver a 15-point plan to Tehran. The proposal is said to include long-standing demands from the US and Israel, primarily requiring Iran to completely abandon its nuclear program.

Ghalibaf dismissed the proposal on Sunday, arguing that Washington is using the list to “pursue what it failed to achieve in the war.”

Iran has countered with its own set of demands, including the removal of all American bases from the Middle East, reparations for war damages, and formal recognition of Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict, which saw US and Israeli strikes begin on February 28, has fundamentally reshaped the region’s leadership. Among the high-ranking officials killed in the strikes was Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The human cost continues to rise, with the US-based monitor Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reporting that 1,551 Iranian civilians have been killed in the bombings so far.

Retaliatory strikes from Iran have hit US military bases and targets in Israel, causing a spike in global oil prices and bringing international air travel at major Middle Eastern hubs to a standstill.