Recent military developments in the region may indicate that the United States is preparing for ground operations against Iran, according to Iran expert Aram Shahnazaryan.
He says Iran’s entire maritime border has been under bombardment for 112 days, with both military and civilian infrastructure being targeted.
According to Shahnazaryan, Iranian military and analytical circles, along with several Western experts, are warning that the United States may be preparing ground operations on strategically important islands in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as inside Iranian territory.
Further Escalation Is Becoming More Likely
The expert says the conflict has already demonstrated its unpredictable nature.
Escalation may suddenly decline at the most intense moment, while military operations may resume during negotiations or even under a ceasefire.
Nevertheless, Shahnazaryan believes the current course of events makes further escalation the more likely scenario.
The United States continues its strikes, while Donald Trump has said that every new attack will be met with strikes against Iranian civilian infrastructure, including bridges, power plants and desalination facilities.
Abandoning the Agreements Could Trigger New Clashes
Shahnazaryan argues that unless the current trajectory is stopped and the United States returns to the agreements it accepted and initialed during negotiations, further negative developments may follow in the near future.
He emphasizes that Iran is prepared for war.
Tehran has repeatedly stated that it is ready to confront a large-scale US military operation.
At the same time, Shahnazaryan hopes the situation will not reach that stage and that reason will prevail, since the conflict is harming not only the United States and Iran but the entire region.
The Parties Must Return to Negotiations
According to the expert, the chances of an optimistic scenario remain “very faint.”
Nevertheless, a return to the negotiating table remains necessary to prevent further escalation.