Iran taunts US: 'We want a land invasion' as new missile unveiled

Iran has declared it is ready for a U.S. ground invasion, with a senior regime-linked academic claiming Tehran has spent decades preparing for a land war while unveiling what he described as a new missile.

Seyed Mohammad Marandi, widely viewed as a mouthpiece for the Iranian regime, said Tehran had dispersed and buried its missile and drone arsenal deep underground to withstand sustained U.S. bombing. He claimed Iran's military strategy is built around surviving an air campaign before inflicting heavy losses on any invading force.

His comments came as fighting entered its eighth consecutive day, with fresh explosions reported across western and southern Iran.

Iran claims new missile deployed

Speaking during an interview with political analyst Glenn Diesen, Marandi said Iran had introduced a new missile into the conflict and continued expanding its stockpile despite ongoing strikes.

"Iran has been accumulating missiles and drones for decades," he said. "Last night they introduced a new missile to the war."

He insisted Iranian forces never store large numbers of weapons together, instead moving missiles from underground facilities only when needed before quickly dispersing them again to avoid U.S. airstrikes.

"Everything has been spread out in Iran and placed underground," Marandi claimed.

Regional attacks intensify

The comments coincided with Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting U.S.-linked facilities in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Jordan said it intercepted 10 incoming missiles early Saturday, while Kuwait reported casualties and significant damage to a power generation and desalination plant.

The United States responded with airstrikes on bridges, surveillance sites, a strategic road tunnel and underground weapons storage facilities.

Multiple explosions were also reported around Khorramabad in western Iran, home to the Imam Ali Missile Base, one of Tehran's major underground missile complexes. Iranian state media claimed the attacks were carried out by U.S. missiles launched from regional bases.

Tehran welcomes invasion threat

Marandi claimed Washington is preparing contingency plans for a ground offensive, pointing to the concentration of U.S. military assets in Bahrain and Kuwait.

"The Americans are planning an invasion," he said. "I'm not saying it will necessarily happen, but they have plans."

He went even further, arguing Iran would actually welcome such a move.

"The Iranians actually want the Americans to carry out a land invasion because they believe they would win," he said.

Ceasefire in ruins

The latest escalation has effectively ended the 60-day ceasefire memorandum designed to restart nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Control of the Strait of Hormuz has again emerged as the conflict's central flashpoint, with both sides increasing military operations across the Gulf.

While Marandi portrayed Iran as fully prepared for a prolonged conflict, his claims regarding new missile capabilities, underground deployments and Tehran's confidence in defeating a U.S. ground invasion have not been independently verified.

SOURCE

When will Trump go groveling on his knees to the Mullahs begging for another "very strong" ceasefire MOU ❓

Iran never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!

-- Donald Trump, not lying for once

38 minutes ago, Social Media said:

He claimed Iran's military strategy is built around surviving an air campaign before inflicting heavy losses on any invading force.

didn't the military used to keep their strategy secret and play their cards close to their chest? I suppose the change in tactics is mainly due to social media, as the various generals seek to collect "likes" and "thumbs up" emojis for their stated military prowess

Looks like this will end up like the Vietnam war,could go on for years,

America will get bored and walk away...

regards worgeordie

43 minutes ago, Social Media said:

Iran has been accumulating missiles and drones for decades," he said.

44 minutes ago, Social Media said:

He insisted Iranian forces never store large numbers of weapons together, instead moving missiles from underground facilities only when needed before quickly dispersing them again to avoid U.S. airstrikes.

"Everything has been spread out in Iran and placed underground," Marandi claimed.

Further evidence that this military operation by the US , which should actually be a joint worldwide military offensive by everybody, is long overdue, Let's just get it over and done with, once and for all

11 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Looks like this will end up like the Vietnam war,could go on for years,

America will get bored and walk away...

regards worgeordie

The USA has not committed large numbers of ground forces, nor has it propped up local corrupt governments.

The USA has been restrained in its targets and there has been no "carpet" bombing.

This is nowhere close to Vietnam.

44 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

When will Trump go groveling on his knees to the Mullahs begging for another "very strong" ceasefire MOU ❓

Iran never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!

-- Donald Trump, not lying for once

I have a friend who is a ex army USA major he said it would be a massacre if he USA puts troops on the ground in Iran and they get bombarded with drones

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

He claimed Iran's military strategy is built around surviving an air campaign before inflicting heavy losses on any invading force.

Ok , but a good anti aircraft defence would make a big difference.

If lots of the F35's (and others) get downed , is would raise the costs of war

and humiliation for the attackers.

40 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

I have a friend who is a ex army USA major he said it would be a massacre if he USA puts troops on the ground in Iran and they get bombarded with drones

F'd Troops is a reality show, unfortunately. 😅

the guy in charge of the army or whatever he's just made a very stupid comment about the dead soldiers and the previous MAGA supporter MTG now she's criticizing him

Hegseth after he wrote in an X postSaturday: "Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve," in regards to the deaths.

"Sacrifice?? What the **** are you talking about??" she replied to his post. "They did not willingly sacrifice themselves."

‘What The **** Are You Talking About?’: MTG Explodes On Hegseth Over Reaction To U.S. Troops Killed In Iranian Strikes

Yahoo News Australia

‘What The **** Are You Talking About?’: MTG Explodes On H...

Marjorie Taylor Greene torched the defense secretary after he called the troops’ deaths a “sacrifice.”

more mines neaded at storage sites ,the US already has a system like wakamole ,when they fire a missile its site gets quickly bombed.

its very likely special forces are there already ,just thething SAS get inviolved in, maaybe US special forces as well

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

Further evidence that this military operation by the US , which should actually be a joint worldwide military offensive by everybody, is long overdue, Let's just get it over and done with, once and for all

The Iraq surge and Vietnam 1967 are on the line - can you take the call ?

38 minutes ago, 3NUMBAS said:

its very likely special forces are there already ,just thething SAS get inviolved in, maaybe US special forces as well

I very much doubt that the SAS are involved in this one!

It is NOT the UK's fight, it all TRUMP's

1 hour ago, scottiejohn said:

I very much doubt that the SAS are involved in this one!

It is NOT the UK's fight, it all TRUMP's

Why think we have US special forces on the ground

meant to address @3NUMBAS

/

Edited July 20Jul 20 by earlinclaifornia

3 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Further evidence that this military operation by the US , which should actually be a joint worldwide military offensive by everybody, is long overdue, Let's just get it over and done with, once and for all

You missed a word..should be 'foolish military operation'

Plus if you really think the US bombing from a few carriers and land bases will defeat Iran in their own country, you should also apply the missing word to yourself.

3 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

The USA has not committed large numbers of ground forces, nor has it propped up local corrupt governments.

The USA has been restrained in its targets and there has been no "carpet" bombing.

This is nowhere close to Vietnam.

NOT yet , with a megalomaniac as Commander in Chief of the

armed forces anything is possible , when the Iranians will not

capitulate who knows what he will do ,

regards Worgeordie

31 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

You missed a word..should be 'foolish military operation'

Plus if you really think the US bombing from a few carriers and land bases will defeat Iran in their own country, you should also apply the missing word to yourself.

Show me where I suggested bombing from a few carriers and landbases would be the way to end it all, I can think of several missing words that apply to you,

As I said this needs sorting out "once and for all" and whilst they are at it they might as well get rid of Gaza , and Syria, and Lebanon for good measure

3 hours ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

The Iraq surge and Vietnam 1967 are on the line - can you take the call ?

Vietnam was clearly not dealt with properly, Now Japan ,on the other hand, I doubt they make many threatening phone calls to the US or anybody else. Proving beyond doubt that when something needs doing, it just needs to be done properly,

It will happen, it's just a matter of time, but just like a cancer , the longer the treatment is delayed,the more infection needs to be removed and the more we will suffer, and the the more severe the treatment will need to be

In my previous comment I suggested it should be sorted out asap , that they should get it over and done with ! Surprisingly ,going off the emoticons received, it appears at least five members don't agree, presumably they would like it to be dragged on for years in order to cause maximum suffering.

As far as the islamic regime is concerned I could not agree more but I think the general public who are neither Arabs or Muslims deserve better however you are all entitled to your views

Doesn't look like Iran's in any mood to negotiate anything now. It appears to me they are 'all in' and doubling down. They have time on their side. Trump doesn't - and a land invasion is really out of the question. So the Iranians let the clock tick down to November - around 3 months from now. Latest polls show this war is the least popular of any war the US has ever fought - including Vietnam. And Trump's 'ratings' are just about as bad. While Jimmy Carter got the boot because of Iran (hostage crisis) - unfairly in my view - Trump's GOP in both houses could be eviscerated in November.

It is unrealistic to expect a full military defeat of Iran, nor a quick result. Westerners can learn from the mainland Chinese who are patient and play the long game.

7 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

I have a friend who is a ex army USA major he said it would be a massacre if he USA puts troops on the ground in Iran and they get bombarded with drones

The tactics and strategies of warfare have changed significantly since the Ukraine war. Russia is losing an estimated 5,000 personnel a week now, due in large part to the Ukrainian drones. Russia like the USA has relied upon overwhelming amounts of missiles and artillery strikes. The USA will have to change its tactics or it will suffer the same fate as Russia.

Iran supplies the drones to Hezbollah and thousands have been used against Israel since October 2023. However, since the start of the Israeli action in Lebanon, Israel has been able to keep its KIAs due to drone strikes low. It has reported approx. 45 KIA in all combat. It has however incurred hundreds of casualies due to the drones ranging from minor to serious. Israel has deployed measures to protect against drones making their attacks survivable. The Ukrainianians have also developed counter measures. Both countries have been sharing their knowledge and experience with the USA. I expect that the USA is preparing its own counter drone strategy.

iran proxies are in the redsea causing trouble so they need to be dealt with

Is this true gas in Iran the people pay a cost of ten cent a gallon

MTG

you go girl

No doubt any more that America is taking a global humiliation despite is XXL high tech army. All dispensed by a terrorist run backward nation like Iran with cheap home made drones and missiles, can keep the US army at bay. All this shows is that for all these years all the trillions spent by corrupt governance on heavy weight military gear, end up being useless when confronted to swarms of cheap home made drones. Same in Ukraine. Just show how corrupt the military defense issues are in most countries and it's more about big buck contracts, corruption, then sincere concerns of inland defense.

How about the financial/economic aspect?

The US national dept has reached astronomical dimensions. Therefore investors demand high yields for treasuries already.

An expensive invasion of Iran will cause the yields to explode.

So, the question is not "can the US do it militarily", the question rather is "can the US afford it" without unhinging the Bond markets with uncalculable consequenses ?

theyre working on bigger bunker busters to drop on pickaxe soon

hubris till the end of iran

I love watching the Iranian shills screech their propaganda while their Mullah masters get strangled.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202609288369

On 7/20/2026 at 11:56 AM, Bday Prang said:

Further evidence that this military operation by the US , which should actually be a joint worldwide military offensive by everybody, is long overdue, Let's just get it over and done with, once and for all

Get your boots on lad, lead from the front.

On 7/20/2026 at 12:17 PM, FlorC said:

Ok , but a good anti aircraft defence would make a big difference.

If lots of the F35's (and others) get downed , is would raise the costs of war

and humiliation for the attackers.

We are not told the actual number of U.S. personnel killed and injured so far in the debacle that is this illegal Israeli/US war of aggression.