Iran Issues Stern Response to US Military Ground Invasion Threat, 16% Probability of US Ground Troops Entering Iran by Month End

**March 27 – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani issued a hardline statement Wednesday dismissing the threat of a U.S. ground invasion, arguing: “The U.S. can’t even protect its own soldiers at regional bases—they only hide them in hotels and parks. How could they possibly safeguard these troops on Iranian soil?”** **Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif posted on social media accusing U.S. forces of using civilians in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states as human shields, and calling on hotels in those countries to reject bookings from U.S. military personnel. Since the conflict began, U.S. troops have evacuated GCC military bases and sought refuge in hotels and office spaces, per CCTV International News.** **Monitoring by PolyBeats shows that on the prediction market Polymarket, the current probability of U.S. ground forces entering Iran by the end of this month is 16%, while the chance rises to 63% by the end of April.** **Earlier Wednesday, a senior U.S. Defense Department official told reporters the Pentagon is considering deploying up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East to expand military options as former President Trump weighs talks with Iran. The contingent—expected to include infantry and armored vehicles—would join roughly 5,000 Marines and thousands of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division already ordered to deploy to the region.**