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Tehran Warns US of 'New Vietnam' if Trump Sends Ground Troops

Published March 17, 2026, 10:17
Tehran Warns US of 'New Vietnam' if Trump Sends Ground Troops

Iran has warned the US of a 'new Vietnam' if Donald Trump decides to send ground troops to the country, escalating its rhetoric against Washington. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh referred to the Vietnam War as a warning about the cost and duration of military involvement. Khatibzadeh stated that Tehran is ready to continue the conflict for as long as necessary, prioritizing the battlefield over diplomacy. At the same time, he left the possibility of negotiations open, but stressed that the responsibility lies with the US and its allies to submit a credible proposal. The Iranian official accused Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of 'dragging' Washington into a war that serves their own interests. Tensions in the region have escalated after the joint US and Israeli attacks in late February and subsequent retaliations from Iran. The warning of a 'new Vietnam' serves as a message about the cost and duration that a full-scale US military involvement in the Middle East could have, recalling the US defeat in the Vietnam War.