Iranian lawmakers threaten Gulf strikes if US troops enter

US military planners have drafted options for a ground operation in Iran, and President Donald Trump has not ruled out deploying troops. The prospect follows the collapse of an interim deal earlier this month, which led to renewed fighting and Trump's threat of an unprecedented "massive attack."

For European markets and energy security, the most pressing danger is the threat of regional spillover. Lawmaker Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani warned that Tehran could launch ground operations against US allies in the Gulf, including Kuwait and Bahrain, if American forces enter Iranian territory. Such a scenario would directly threaten the shipping lanes and hydrocarbon exports that Europe relies upon.

Iranian army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami-Nia confirmed that any US entry would trigger a military response. "If the Americans set foot on one of our islands, we will definitely target them on our own soil," he said.

Inside Iran, the debate is fractured. Five citizens interviewed noted a shift in public mood after an initial 40-day period of war failed to topple the Islamic Republic. "Most people I know are against war," said Ali, a 36-year-old construction worker. "Before the 40-day war, some supported military action because they believed it could lead to the collapse of the system. But when that did not happen, many changed their minds."

Economic anxieties centre on the destruction of national infrastructure. Jamshid, a 44-year-old Tehran newsstand operator, noted that strikes on bridges, primary resources and petrochemical plants would devastate ordinary citizens. "In that situation it is no longer only to the detriment of the Islamic Republic; the Iranian people will suffer as well," he said.

Despite the risks, nearly 50 years of economic pressure have pushed some citizens to consider previously unthinkable options. Parichehr, a 46-year-old lawyer, stated: "At this moment, I personally support the presence of American forces in Iran." She added that when "all paths appear closed, people begin to think perhaps another option should be tested."

Others reject foreign intervention entirely and predict severe retaliation. Morteza, a 38-year-old mechanic, warned that an incursion into southern Iran would result in missile strikes causing "extensive damage and destruction" in Kuwait and Dubai. He pledged to take up arms, stating: "If American forces enter Iran, I would join the Iranian military to defend my country and my family."