Ex-IRGC chief says US ground invasion of Iran would be 'great'

Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander-in-chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and current military adviser to Mojtaba Khamenei, criticised the United States over its naval presence in the Strait of Hormuz in remarks aired on Iranian state television, amid heightened regional tensions.

According to NDTV, Rezaei questioned Washington's role in the waterway, saying: "Trump wants to become the police of the Strait of Hormuz. Is this really your job? Is this the job of a powerful army like the US?"

He claimed Iranian forces had repositioned missile systems and said: "The launchers have most likely been moved by our brothers and are now aimed at the Abraham Lincoln and all American warships."

Rezaei further warned of potential escalation, stating: "These ships of yours will be sunk by our first missiles and have created a great danger for the US military. They can definitely be exposed to our missiles, and we can destroy them all. We will not allow a single one to escape us."

He also said US naval forces were now exposed, claiming they were under threat from Iranian systems and describing them as being "under our missile launchers" and "within striking range."

Addressing the possibility of a US ground invasion, Rezaei said it would be "great", adding: "We would take thousands of hostages and then for each hostage we would get a billion dollars."

On the ceasefire, he said: "I am not in favour of extending the ceasefire at all, though he noted the final decision is "subject to the decisions of the relevant officials." He also said: "Unlike the Americans who are afraid of continuous war, we are fully prepared and familiar with a long war."

Rezaei further said that in future negotiations, "it was Iran that was setting the preconditions... not the US."

The comments come amid continued tensions in the Strait of Hormuz following recent disruptions to shipping and a subsequent US military naval presence in the area.