Iran Orders Military to Prepare for Ground Operations as War Enters Critical Phase
As the US-led military campaign against Iran enters its 34th day, a dramatic new chapter is unfolding: Iran’s army chief has ordered commanders to prepare for a potential American ground invasion, while the Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued unprecedented threats against US companies operating across the Persian Gulf.
The developments come hours after President Donald Trump delivered his first primetime address on Operation Epic Fury, declaring that “core strategic objectives are nearing completion” — but warning Iran he would bomb the nation “back to the Stone Ages” if a peace deal isn’t reached.
Iran Army Chief: ‘No Enemy Troops Should Be Spared’
In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric, Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief General Abdolrahim Mousavi ordered his field commanders on April 2 to monitor “enemy movements with utmost pessimism and accuracy” and prepare countermeasures for any method of attack, including ground operations.
According to Reuters and Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), General Mousavi told soldiers that any ground operation by American forces would be met with a “decisive response.” The directive came as reports from the New York Times and Reuters indicated that ground troops may be deployed to Iran — a significant escalation from the air campaign that has defined Operation Epic Fury since it began on February 28.
The ground invasion fears mark a turning point in the conflict. Until now, the US and Israeli campaign has been conducted almost entirely from the air and sea, with cruise missiles, stealth bombers, and drone strikes systematically targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, military infrastructure, and command centers.
Trump’s Primetime Address: Victory Claims Meet Harsh Threats
Speaking from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday evening, President Trump painted a picture of a mission accomplished — while simultaneously threatening far worse destruction if Iran doesn’t capitulate.
“I have made clear from the beginning of Operation Epic Fury that we will continue until our objectives are fully achieved,” Trump said. “Thanks to the progress we’ve made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives.”
Key takeaways from the address:
- Timeline: Trump projected “two to three more weeks” of intensive military operations before the US could begin winding down
- Power grid threat: He warned that Iran’s “electric generating plants” would be hit “very hard” if a peace deal is not agreed — a threat that could constitute targeting civilian infrastructure
- Hormuz deflection: Trump insisted the US “doesn’t need” oil shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, telling other nations to take the lead in reopening it
- NATO fury: He said he was “strongly considering” pulling the US out of NATO over European allies’ response to the war
- Ceasefire claim denied: Trump’s earlier claim that Iran’s leadership had asked for a ceasefire was flatly rejected by Tehran as “false and baseless”
The speech sent oil prices surging past $100 per barrel — a level not seen since July 2022 — as markets digested the reality that the Strait of Hormuz crisis is far from over.
IRGC Issues Unprecedented Threat Against US Companies
In one of the most significant developments of Day 34, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it had begun targeting US-linked steel and aluminum facilities in Gulf states, calling the strikes a “warning.”
The IRGC statement, carried by Iranian state media, was chillingly specific: “If Iranian industries are hit again, Tehran’s next response will be more painful.”
But the threat went further. The IRGC declared that American ICT and AI companies operating in the Middle East are now considered “legitimate targets,” citing their alleged role in providing tracking and targeting technology used in assassination operations. The Guards warned employees of these companies to “immediately leave their workplaces” and told residents in the region living near such facilities to evacuate.
This represents a dramatic expansion of Iran’s targeting doctrine — moving from military-to-military retaliation to directly threatening the commercial interests of the United States and its allies across the region.
The Hormuz Crisis: UK Rallies 35 Nations as Global Energy Prices Spike
While the military campaign dominates headlines, the economic fallout from Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply flows — continues to ripple across global markets.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the UK would host an international diplomatic conference this week, bringing together 35 nations to discuss strategies for reopening the vital waterway. French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned that reopening Hormuz by force would be “unrealistic,” signaling a growing European preference for diplomatic solutions.
The average US gas price has hit $3.99 according to AAA, with crude oil settling above $100 per barrel. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War warn that Iran could maintain leverage over the strait long after active hostilities end, using the threat of future disruptions to “deter and coerce the United States and its partners.”
Senior Iranian officials, including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, have explicitly stated that control of Hormuz will be used to “ensure” the regime’s survival — making clear that the strait is not just a battlefield but Iran’s ultimate strategic insurance policy.
Top Iranian Official Injured in Tehran Strike
Adding to the day’s developments, The Guardian reported that a top Iranian official was injured in a US-Israeli strike on Tehran. The strike occurred as the IDF confirmed hitting approximately 15 weapons production sites across Iran, including a Ministry of Defense complex for advanced missile production.
The funeral of Alireza Tangsiri, head of Iran’s IRGC Navy who was killed earlier in the conflict, drew massive crowds — a reminder that Iran’s military losses are mounting even as its defiant rhetoric intensifies.
Pezeshkian’s Appeal to the American People
In a remarkable diplomatic move, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian published an open letter addressed directly to the American people, urging them to “question their government’s war motives.”
“The Iranian people harbor no enmity toward other nations, including the people of America,” Pezeshkian wrote, drawing a careful distinction between the US government and its citizens. He traced the roots of the conflict back to the 1953 CIA-backed coup and warned that “the continuation of military aggression and recent bombings profoundly affect people’s lives, attitudes, and perspectives.”
The letter — which echoed similar diplomatic gestures by Iranian leaders during past crises — represents an attempt to build public opposition to the war within the United States itself.
The Casualty Count: A War With Growing Human Cost
As of Day 34, the confirmed death toll continues to rise:
- US military: 13 service members killed, hundreds wounded
- Gulf nations: At least 50 killed in Iranian attacks across the region
- Israel: At least 17 killed
- Iran: Civilian and military casualties mounting, though exact figures remain difficult to verify due to media restrictions
The human rights situation inside Iran has also deteriorated sharply. Amnesty International reported the execution of Amirhossein Hatami, a man arrested during anti-government protests in January, who was convicted in what the organization called a “grossly unfair trial” relying on “forced confessions.”
What Comes Next: Ground War or Withdrawal?
The central question hanging over the conflict is whether Trump’s “two to three weeks” projection signals a genuine wind-down — or whether ground troops will be deployed to finish what airstrikes alone cannot achieve.
Military analysts note that while US air power has devastated Iran’s nuclear facilities and military infrastructure, key objectives remain elusive: the Strait of Hormuz is still closed, Iran’s regime remains intact, and the IRGC continues to project power across the region through proxy forces and direct missile strikes.
The JINSA think tank warned in an analysis published April 1 that the focus should be on “end states, not end dates” — cautioning that a premature withdrawal could leave Iran’s missile, drone, and naval capabilities intact enough to threaten the region for years to come.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will visit Washington next week for what a spokesperson called a “long-planned visit” — though Trump’s public threats to withdraw from the alliance have cast a long shadow over transatlantic relations.
Day 34 of Operation Epic Fury ends with more questions than answers. The war may be “nearing completion” in the White House’s telling — but on the ground, in the Gulf, and in the global economy, the crisis is only deepening.