Iranians divided over prospect of US ground invasion
A Euronews report reveals deep divisions among Iranians on whether a US ground invasion would be liberation or catastrophe, with some fearing war and others seeing it as a last resort to change the regime.
US military planners have drawn up options for a ground operation in Iran, and President Donald Trump has not ruled it out, sparking sharp debate inside the country. Iranian army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami-Nia warned that any US entry onto Iranian territory would trigger a military response, and lawmaker Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani threatened ground operations against US allies in the Gulf.
Euronews spoke to five Iranians about the prospect. Ali, a 36-year-old construction worker from Karaj, does not believe the US will send ground forces and opposes war because ordinary people would pay the heaviest price. He said many around him originally supported military action hoping to topple the regime, but changed their minds after the 40-day war failed to do so.
Jamshid, a 44-year-old newsstand owner in Tehran, believes a US entry is a genuine possibility but would come at a heavy cost. He would support intervention if it does not destroy infrastructure and leads to the fall of the Islamic Republic or forces a deal, arguing that any territorial loss would be humiliating for the regime.
Laleh, a high school sociology teacher in Tehran, thinks the US could occupy parts of southern Iran and that the regime would be unable to retake them. She does not believe occupation would bring down the government but would eventually force negotiations.
Parichehr, a 46-year-old lawyer, said she personally supports the presence of American forces, noting that after almost 50 years under the Islamic Republic, when all paths appear closed, people begin to consider other options.
Morteza, a 38-year-old mechanic in Tehran, said a ground invasion is impossible, but if it happened, he and his family would fight with the Iranian military to defend their country. He believes the Islamic Republic should remain for now, because nobody knows who would take control if it collapses.
