Live updates: Iran warns against US ground invasion as regional leaders ramp up diplomatic efforts

Iran war: Tehran warns US against ground invasion as regional powers scramble to contain crisis

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Iran’s military command issued an explicit warning Saturday against any US ground invasion as regional capitals intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent wider conflict.

The Revolutionary Guards told state television that American troops would face “a quagmire deeper than Afghanistan” if they crossed Iran’s borders. The statement came hours after President Trump convened an emergency meeting with his national security team at the White House.

Tehran’s threat landed as Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister flew to Baghdad for urgent talks with Iraqi leaders, while Turkey’s president prepared separate calls with both Washington and Tehran. The flurry of diplomacy underscored growing fears that tit-for-tat strikes between Iran and the United States could spiral into open warfare.

The crisis erupted three days earlier when US forces hit Iranian naval facilities along the Persian Gulf coast, killing 18 sailors. Iran responded with missile barrages against two American bases in Iraq, wounding 27 service members. Both sides have positioned additional forces near the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of global oil supplies pass.

Regional powers moved quickly to contain the fallout. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Baghdad Saturday morning for discussions with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani. The Saudi delegation brought proposals for a ceasefire mechanism, according to two Iraqi officials briefed on the talks.

Turkey also inserted itself into crisis management. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan scheduled phone calls with Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for Sunday, his office announced. Ankara offered to host preliminary negotiations in Istanbul, leveraging its membership in NATO and economic ties with Tehran.

The European Union dispatched its top diplomat to the region. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas landed in Abu Dhabi Saturday evening after stops in Riyadh and Muscat. She carried what diplomats described as a “narrowing window” for de-escalation, with European governments urging both capitals to accept third-party mediation.

China joined the diplomatic push. Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, urging restraint while reaffirming Beijing’s opposition to further US military action. China imports roughly 10 percent of its crude oil from Iran and has invested billions in Iranian infrastructure projects.

Inside Iran, the military signaled readiness for protracted conflict. Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami inspected missile units near the Gulf coast, state media reported. “Our strategy is not limited to one or two operations,” Salami told troops. “We are prepared for a long war that will burn American interests across the region.”

The Pentagon announced additional deployments. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that 3,000 Marines from the 26th Expeditionary Unit would join the 4,000 soldiers already ordered to Kuwait. B-1 bombers arrived at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base, while the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman moved through the Suez Canal toward Iranian waters.

Oil markets convulsed for a third straight day. Brent crude surged to $98 per barrel, its highest level since 2022, before settling at $96. Saudi Arabia pledged to increase production by 500,000 barrels daily to stabilize markets, but traders remained jittery about potential Iranian attacks on Gulf shipping lanes.

Economic pressure mounted on both sides. The Trump administration prepared fresh sanctions targeting Iran’s remaining oil exports and financial sectors, measures that could come as early as Monday. Iran responded by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz entirely, a move that would cut off oil supplies to Asia and Europe.

Iraq emerged as the primary venue for indirect negotiations. Prime Minister Sudani offered Baghdad as a neutral meeting ground, similar to his predecessor’s role during previous US-Iran tensions in 2020. Iraqi officials shuttled between American and Iranian diplomats at Baghdad’s airport and the fortified Green Zone.

The humanitarian situation in border areas deteriorated rapidly. Iranian state television showed thousands of residents evacuating villages near the Iraqi frontier, while Kuwait announced plans to relocate American dependents from military bases. Aid organizations prepared contingency plans for possible refugee flows across the region.

Background

The current crisis builds on decades of US-Iran hostility since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Previous confrontations include the 1980s Tanker War during the Iran-Iraq conflict, America’s 1988 shooting of an Iranian passenger jet, and Iran’s 2019 seizure of oil tankers. The 2015 nuclear deal temporarily eased tensions before the Trump administration withdrew in 2018 and reimposed sanctions.

Proxy conflicts have defined the relationship for years. Iran funds armed groups across the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, while the United States maintains military bases encircling Iran. Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza since October 2023 has heightened regional tensions, with Iranian-backed groups attacking American forces in Iraq and Syria under the guise of supporting Palestinians.

What’s Next

All eyes turn to Sunday’s scheduled calls between Erdogan and both Trump and Pezeshkian. Turkish officials indicate they will propose a 72-hour ceasefire to allow for broader negotiations, with Oman and Qatar potentially joining as co-mediators. The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency session for Monday, though Russia and China are expected to block any resolution authorizing force against Iran.