As Gulf de-escalation talks are underway in Islamabad – and ceasefire contacts have taken place between Iran and the US, including an American proposal submitted to the Iranians – Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf accused the US of "talking about negotiations in public, but planning a ground invasion in secret."
The accusation came after a regional diplomatic source familiar with the details told Israel Hayom that Iran had formally requested a full ceasefire from the US, while weighing its response to the American ceasefire proposal. According to the source, Iran asked for a delay of approximately five to seven days to do so, and requested a complete halt to the fighting during that period – a request the US denied.
U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, March 27. The America-class amphibious assault ship serves as the flagship for the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group / 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit composed of about… pic.twitter.com/JFWiPBbkd2
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 28, 2026
Against the backdrop of the arrival of the 31st MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit – a rapid-response amphibious force) in the region, Ghalibaf warned Washington that "armed Iranian forces are waiting for US ground troops to arrive," adding that Iran would "punish" their regional partners as well.
The troop movement, according to the report by The New York Post, would fall short of a full-scale invasion – but would still place American service members at risk from Iranian military weapons. Last week, approximately 10,000 additional troops were under consideration for deployment to the Middle East, intended to reinforce the already substantial US military presence in the Gulf and expand President Donald Trump's military options.
The potential reinforcement would build on nearly 5,000 Marines and sailors and roughly 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division already deployed in the region. Kept routinely on high alert, the 82nd Airborne is among the military's most prized rapid-response assets, capable of reaching flashpoints around the world on short notice.
Where US troops would land remained unclear. Joint air strikes have targeted both the capital, Tehran, and military infrastructure closer to the Gulf, including Kharg Island.
