By Suleman Chitera
An Iranian lawmaker has sparked fresh fears of a wider regional conflict after openly calling for the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel to escalate into a ground confrontation.
Mohammad Saleh Jokar, a member of Iran’s parliament, said he hopes the ongoing hostilities will expand beyond air and missile exchanges so that American troops are drawn directly into the battlefield.
Speaking to Iranian media outlet Didban Iran, Jokar declared that Iran is prepared for a prolonged military confrontation and insisted that the ultimate outcome of the conflict will be decided through combat rather than negotiations.
“I hope this war turns into a ground war so we witness the burial of American soldiers in the Persian Gulf region,” Jokar said.
His remarks come amid escalating tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel, following a series of military strikes and counterattacks that have pushed the region closer to a broader war.
Jokar also mocked U.S. President Donald Trump, questioning America’s military dominance which Trump has repeatedly highlighted in his rhetoric.
“America, which Trump boasted about and said we have the strongest army in the world — where is it now?” Jokar said.
The Iranian legislator further warned that Iran has not yet deployed some of its most advanced capabilities in the conflict. According to Jokar, the country still has “new tactics and technologies” that have not been used against U.S. or Israeli forces.
“We will determine the final result on the battlefield. Diplomacy is no longer enough,” he added.
His comments reflect growing hardline sentiment within Iran’s political and military establishment as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East.
Security analysts warn that if the conflict shifts into a full ground war, it could dramatically widen the fighting across the Persian Gulf region and potentially draw in additional global powers, raising the risk of a prolonged and devastating regional war.
