'All paths appear closed': Iranians weigh prospect of US invasion of their country

US military planners have drawn up options for a ground operation in Iran, and US President Donald Trump has not ruled it out, a prospect that has opened a sharp and deeply personal debate inside the country about whether foreign boots on Iranian soil would be a liberation or a catastrophe.

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Iranian army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami-Nia warned recently that any US entry onto Iranian territory would trigger a military response. "If the Americans set foot on one of our islands, we will definitely target them on our own soil," he said.

Lawmaker Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani went further, warning that Tehran could launch ground operations against US allies in the Gulf, including Kuwait and Bahrain, if US forces entered Iranian territory.

Trump has repeatedly warned that Washington is prepared to go further if Tehran does not change course, and has threatened the Islamic Republic with an unprecedented "massive attack" in another escalation of rethoric after the interim deal between the two sides failed earlier this month, leading to renewed fighting.

Euronews spoke to five Iranians about the prospect of a US ground operation — whether they believe it is coming, whether it could topple the Islamic Republic, and whether they would fight to resist it or welcome it.

Their names have been changed to protect their safety.

'Most people I know are against war'

Ali, 36, a construction worker from Karaj, does not believe the US will send ground forces into Iran.

"I don't think America will enter Iran with ground forces. Even if it wanted to do so, it would not be able to seize the islands or the southern parts of Iran," he told Euronews.

He said he opposed war because ordinary Iranians would pay the heaviest price. "People in Iran are already under pressure. War would only increase that pressure."

Asked whether he would prefer continued sanctions and maritime restrictions or a war that might produce political change, he said, "I would choose lifting the maritime blockade, in any way possible."

Ali said opinion among those around him had shifted after the initial 40 days of the war war failed to bring down the Islamic Republic.

"Most people I know are against war. Before the 40-day war, some supported military action because they believed it could lead to the collapse of the system," he said.

"But when that did not happen, many changed their minds. They now believe this government will not fall because of war, and that ordinary people will only suffer. I personally do not think this regime will collapse through war."

On speculation about Iranian ground operations against Gulf states, Ali was dismissive. "The era of ground warfare is over. Their military technology is more advanced than ours. If our forces entered Kuwait, they would be targeted from the air and would achieve nothing."

'Occupation would be a humiliating defeat for the regime'

Jamshid, 44, runs a newsstand in Tehran. Unlike Ali, he believes a US entry into southern Iran or its islands is a genuine possibility — though he says it would come at a heavy cost for Iranians regardless of their politics.

"As an Iranian I didn't want things to get to this point, because if the entry of the US army into Iran involves hitting infrastructure, bridges, primary resources, bases and petrochemical plants, Iran will suffer a great deal," he told Euronews.

"In that situation it is no longer only to the detriment of the Islamic Republic; the Iranian people will suffer as well."

He said he could support intervention under narrow conditions. "If the entry of American forces does not mean destroying the country's infrastructure, and if it leads to the fall of the Islamic Republic or forces it into an agreement with the United States — allowing Iran to become something like China after Mao — then I would prefer American forces entering Iran."

Jamshid argued that any territorial loss would weaken the government politically. "If part of Iran is occupied, this would be devastating and humiliating for the Islamic Republic and could increase the possibility of its collapse."

But he said he did not know anyone who would fight alongside US soldiers. "I don't know anyone who says they would fight with the American army. But America does not need ordinary people to fight for it."

'Perhaps an occupation would force a deal'

Laleh is a high school sociology teacher in Tehran. She believes the US could occupy parts of Iran's southern coast or its islands — and that the Islamic Republic would be unable to retake them.

"I think America could occupy parts of the islands or southern Iran. If that happens, I don't think the Islamic Republic would have the ability to retake those areas," Laleh told Euronews, adding that she does not believe occupation would bring the government down, but thinks it would eventually force talks.

"An occupation would not necessarily bring down the Islamic Republic. The government could justify it to its supporters. But ultimately, it would have to negotiate in order to recover the occupied territories."

Parichehr, 46, is a lawyer. She told Euronews she did not expect a ground operation — "I do not believe the US government would send its army into a country as large as Iran" — but when asked directly whether she would support it, she gave an unexpected answer.

"At this moment, I personally support the presence of American forces in Iran," she said.

She was cautious about drawing conclusions from Afghanistan and Iraq. "When we speak with Afghans, many are unhappy with the period of American presence in their country, although a minority are satisfied. I cannot make a definitive judgment based only on their experience," Parichehr said.

According to her, decades under the Islamic Republic had pushed some Iranians toward a position they would not previously have considered.

"For almost 50 years, Iranian people have experienced life under the Islamic Republic," Parichehr said.

"We have tried different ways to improve the situation, but when all paths appear closed, people begin to think perhaps another option should be tested," she added.

"Even if you do not know all the consequences of a new path, you may still prefer not to continue on the same road."

'My family and I would fight'

Morteza, 38, is a mechanic in Tehran. He said a ground invasion was impossible, but described what he thought would follow if it happened.

"In my view a US ground attack is impossible. At most, the United States might bomb Tehran with missiles like in the days before the New Year. It won't raise the level of war beyond that," Morteza told Euronews.

"But if it did enter by land and occupy parts of southern Iran, then Iran would hit Kuwait and Dubai with missiles in such a way as to cause extensive damage and destruction," he said.

He said he would take up arms regardless of his views on the government. "Iran is our home and we know this country better. It is like someone entering your house by force. You try to remove them by any means," Morteza said.

"If American forces enter Iran, I would join the Iranian military to defend my country and my family. We know our equipment is not enough, but we would fight to prevent our country from being occupied."

Asked whether the Islamic Republic should remain in power, he said: "Given the current economic situation, I think it is better for the Islamic Republic to remain for now. If it collapses, nobody knows who will take control of the country."