Iran’s parliament speaker warned U.S. troops would be targeted as tensions escalate, with missiles ready and regional leaders meeting to address the conflict.
WASHINGTON — Iranian forces “are waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever,” the country’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Sunday.
Qalibaf added: “Our firing continues. Our missiles are in place. Our determination and faith have increased.”
The comments came as regional powers plan to meet in Pakistan to discuss how to end the fighting in the Middle East as about 2,500 U.S. Marines arrived in the region and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels entered the monthlong war.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Pakistan on Sunday. Turkey and Egypt are also expected to send senior diplomats to Islamabad for the talks.
The war has threatened global supplies of oil and natural gas, sparked fertilizer shortages and disrupted air travel. Iran’s grip on the strategic Strait of Hormuz has shaken markets and prices.
The Houthis’ entry could further hurt global shipping if they again target vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off the Red Sea, through which about 12% of the world’s trade typically passes.
Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
