Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf accused the United States on Sunday of secretly preparing a ground invasion while publicly pursuing diplomatic negotiations, warning that Tehran's forces were ready and waiting. Qalibaf said: 'The enemy sends messages of friendship openly, while secretly plotting a ground invasion. We are waiting for their arrival; we will set them ablaze and punish their regional partners forever.'
The remarks landed as regional powers moved to prevent the month-long conflict from escalating further. Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt gathered in Islamabad on Sunday without US or Israeli participation, as Pakistan sought to facilitate direct talks between Washington and Tehran. The diplomatic push came at a moment of sharply rising military tension on both sides.
