Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Iran Warns US Against Ground Invasion as Hormuz Deal Nears
A top general in Iran's army, named Ali Jahanshahi, warned that if any American soldiers come into Iran, the Iranian military will fight back and 'cut them off.'
Iran and the United States are not talking to each other directly right now.
Instead, they send messages through other countries, like Oman.
Iran's foreign minister says talks with Oman about the Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway where ships carry oil, are almost finished.
But Iran says the waterway will only reopen if the United States pays for breaking an earlier agreement, called the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
Iran also says the old shipping route through the strait is no longer okay and a new one must be planned.
A United States official said a deal is expected soon, and once it is announced, the US will stop blockading Iranian ports.
The conflict between the two countries has been going on for about five months, and it has disrupted oil shipping.
Both sides say they want their own conditions met before things get back to normal.
Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi, commander of Iran's army ground forces, warned on Sunday that if any US military personnel set foot in Iran, 'we will cut them off.'
Jahanshahi said Iranian army ground forces remain at full combat readiness, continuously monitoring movements and threats while guarding the country's borders.
Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is not currently negotiating with the United States and that messages are exchanged only through intermediaries.
Araghchi said talks with Oman on a legal mechanism and a new Strait of Hormuz traffic route are near completion, but reopening depends on US compensation for violations of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
On Friday, an anonymous US official told Reuters that progress has been made in Oman-Iran talks, that a deal is expected soon, and that the US would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once the deal is announced.
- Who
- Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi, commander of Iran's army ground forces; Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi; and an unnamed US official speaking to Reuters.
- What
- Iran warned the US against any ground invasion and said reopening the Strait of Hormuz depends on US compensation, while the US signaled it would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once a shipping deal is announced.
- When
- The Iranian warnings were issued on Sunday; the US official's remarks came on Friday; the conflict is described as five months old.
- Where
- Iran, Washington, Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- Tensions stem from alleged US violations of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and the disruption of oil exports during the five-month conflict.
Iran's Position
US Position
Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Position
Reopening is subject to conditions, including US compensation for violations of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding; the previously used traffic separation scheme is rejected, and a new route involving extensive technical and legal complexities is required.
US Position
Progress has been made in Iran-Oman talks and a deal is expected soon to restore commercial shipping without impediments; the US would then lift its blockade of Iranian ports.
Path to Negotiations
Iran's Position
There is no possibility of resuming negotiations until the US ends its violations of the bilateral agreement and makes up for what it has violated; contact is only through intermediaries.
US Position
The US expects a deal with Iran on the strait to be announced soon, indicating diplomatic progress toward ending the conflict and restoring oil exports.
Military Confrontation
Iran's Position
Iran warns that any US ground intervention would be met with a firm and deterrent response, with army ground forces at full combat readiness guarding the borders.
US Position
The US is pursuing a diplomatic resolution through the Oman-Iran talks and expects a deal soon, with no indication of a ground intervention.
- Key figure
- Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi, commander of Iranian army ground forces
- Warning issued
- "If any US military personnel set foot in Iran, we will cut them off"
- Diplomatic status
- No direct US-Iran negotiations; messages exchanged via intermediaries
- Sticking point
- US compensation for violations of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding
- Strait of Hormuz talks
- Negotiations with Oman on a legal mechanism and new traffic route near completion
- New route condition
- The previously used traffic separation scheme is no longer acceptable to Tehran
- US position
- Will lift the blockade of Iranian ports once a deal restoring commercial shipping is announced
- Conflict duration
- Five months, with oil exports disrupted
