The conflict between the US, Israel and Iran has entered its second month, accompanied by growing threats of a possible ground invasion by American forces. In response, Iran is stepping up internal security measures: voluntary checkpoints are appearing on city streets, particularly around strategic sites. Volunteers like Mehran check documents of passersby to identify possible "traitors." Despite official military assurances of their ability to contain any threat, a mood of anxious anticipation prevails among the population, exacerbated by electricity outages caused by ongoing air strikes.
Tehran's official position is a mix of tough rhetoric and efforts to reassure the public. State media broadcast military threats toward the enemy while emphasizing the army's ability to protect citizens. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei said the country is prepared for all scenarios, including a ground invasion. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf confirmed that the enemy has moved from an airstrike phase to planning ground operations on Iranian territory, stressing that the only way out of this war can be victory.
Iranian military command links any attempt at invasion with an inevitable and severe response. Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia warned that a ground operation would meet crushing strikes, the consequences of which would be far more serious than losses from the current mutual long-range attacks. Officials say the armed forces have completed preparations for any development, calling this war "within their sphere of strength." Such rhetoric is intended to bolster a sense of security inside the country and reduce fear among ordinary people.
Iranian society's reaction is mixed: alongside concerns about worsening an already difficult economic situation, some citizens see the shift to a ground phase as a way to reduce civilian casualties compared with air strikes. Some, like oil company worker Ahmad, accuse the US president of following Israel's agenda and openly desiring to seize the resources of sovereign Iran. Others, like student Fatima, note that the war, despite all its horrors, has strengthened their sense of national belonging and patriotism.
Military analysts close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps consider a full-scale ground invasion unlikely and an extremely difficult undertaking. Expert Mehdi Azizi points to Iran's geographic features and its multi-layered defense system, which includes the regular army, police and the Basij popular militia. He notes a developed defensive infrastructure with a network of tunnels and fortifications in border areas. Experience from conflicts in Gaza and southern Lebanon shows that air and technological superiority alone are insufficient without a political project and local allies, making Washington's calculations for the success of a ground operation highly uncertain.
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How does the Basij popular militia fit into Iran's defense and internal security system? - The Basij (Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed) is a voluntary popular militia that is structurally part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Its roles include: auxiliary military functions (supporting the IRGC and the regular army), internal security (suppressing unrest, patrolling), ideological control (monitoring compliance with norms, work with youth) and providing assistance in natural disasters. Organizationally it is divided into active and reserve units formed on territorial (district, city) and professional (student, trade) bases.
What are the main geographic features of Iran that, according to experts, make a ground invasion difficult? - Key geographic obstacles: 1) Mountain ranges (Zagros in the west and Alborz in the north) create natural defensive lines and complicate the movement of equipment. 2) Vast deserts (Dasht-e Kavir, Dasht-e Lut in the center) complicate logistics and supply. 3) A limited number of invasion-friendly plains corridors, which are easy to defend. 4) A complex network of internal communications where the defending side has the advantage. These factors have historically made conquering Iran an extremely difficult military task.
What is the role and influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran's military-political decision-making, beyond the regular army? - The IRGC wields significant influence beyond ordinary military functions: 1) Political influence — high-ranking IRGC commanders often occupy key state positions, and the corps has direct representation in the National Security Council. 2) Economic influence — through its funds and companies it controls significant sectors of the economy (construction, telecommunications, energy). 3) Ideological role — defending the Islamic system, which allows it to influence domestic and foreign policy. 4) Autonomy — it has its own ground, naval, aerospace and special units (Quds Force), often operating independently of the regular army. This makes the IRGC one of the country's most influential institutions.
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