“WE ARE WAITING”: Mohsen Rezaee Challenges U.S. Troops Amid Invasion Fears
TEHRAN — In a move that signals the rising influence of the military’s old guard, senior Iranian official and former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaee issued a provocative challenge to the United States on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Addressing the prospect of a U.S. ground maneuver, Rezaee questioned the resolve of American service members and suggested that Iran is fully prepared for a “direct confrontation.”
“Do American soldiers want to die for Israel?” Rezaee asked in a statement carried by state-run media. “What do they expect from a ground invasion? We’re waiting.”
The Rise of the “Triumvirate”
Rezaee’s comments come amid reports that he has moved to the center of a new Iranian “Governing Council” following the decapitation of the previous leadership.
According to reports from Alhurra and regional intelligence analysts, Rezaee is now part of a triumvirate effectively running the state alongside Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and former IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi. This shift suggests that the IRGC has fully transitioned from “operating in the shadows” to direct state control as the war enters its most volatile phase.
Psychological Warfare: The “Vietnam” Parallel
Rezaee’s rhetoric is a classic example of the “resistance and patience” strategy (Mukluwama and Sabour) that he has advocated for decades.
- Targeting Domestic U.S. Opinion: By asking if soldiers want to “die for Israel,” Rezaee is attempting to tap into the political polarization in the United States regarding the cost of Operation Epic Fury.
- The “Graveyard” Warning: He reiterated his long-standing warning that any foreign boots on Iranian soil would face a “protracted insurgency,” drawing parallels to historical military quagmires.
- Ground Readiness: Despite the “severe damage” to Iranian infrastructure, Rezaee claims that Iran’s decentralized ground forces remain “untouched” by the air campaign and are ready to engage in “asymmetric warfare.”
The “Invasion” Trigger: Kharg Island?
The “waiting” comment is likely a response to the massive buildup of U.S. forces near the Iranian coast.
| U.S. Force Presence | Strategic Implication |
| 82nd Airborne Division | Arriving in the Gulf; capable of rapid “vertical” insertion on islands. |
| Marine Expeditionary Units | Positioned on amphibious assault ships near the Strait of Hormuz. |
| Friday Deadline | President Trump has threatened a “total infrastructure phase” by sunrise on March 27. |
“The Iranians are patient. Where the United States seeks a war of attrition to reduce our numbers, we are fighting a war of resistance where the only outcome is martyrdom or victory.” — Strategic Assessment of the Rezaee Doctrine
The Internal Power Struggle
While Rezaee projects strength, his rise to power highlights the “vacuum” claimed by the White House earlier today. By stepping into the light, Rezaee is attempting to provide a “visible” face for a regime that the U.S. Press Secretary described as “wiped off the map.” However, his presence also complicates the Islamabad Summit, as he is historically even more hardline than the late Ayatollah Khamenei regarding negotiations with Washington.