​US Targets Iran ​Peace Envoy; ​Army ​Chief ​Warns ​Against ​Invasion

Dubai: Iran's army chief warned on Thursday that if US forces launch a ground invasion of the Islamic Republic, "not a single person" among the invaders would survive.

"If the enemy conducts a ground incursion, not a single life will be spared," Major General Amir Hatami said during a video conference with senior commanders across the army's ground, air, naval, and air defence forces.

He affirmed the army's readiness to counter any hostile action, both defensively and offensively, and urged commanders to closely monitor enemy movements and prepare response plans.

"The shadow of war must be lifted from our country, and there must be security for everyone, because it is not possible for places to be safe while our people remain unsafe," he added.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the armed forces' unified command said Tehran would continue its campaign in the Middle East until the US and Israel face "permanent regret and surrender," according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said US and Israeli assessments of Iran's military strength were "incomplete." He warned that Iran would escalate its operations, with "more crushing, broader, and more destructive" attacks planned.

Responding to US President Donald Trump's recent remarks, Zolfaghari claimed Iran maintains undisclosed stockpiles of weapons and munitions.

"The centres you believe you have targeted are insignificant. Our strategic military production takes place in locations you do not know and will never reach," he said.

US-Israeli Strike Targets Former Foreign Minister

Former Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharazi has been seriously wounded in an apparent assassination attempt during ongoing US-Israeli strikes, which have continued for a fifth week.

Kharazi, a senior adviser and former diplomat reportedly involved in backchannel efforts with Pakistan regarding possible US-Iran negotiations, was targeted at his home in Tehran early Thursday, according to Iranian newspapers Shargh, Etemad, and Ham Mihan. The strike reportedly killed his wife.

He sustained severe injuries and was hospitalised. The attack coincided with President Trump's address, in which he said the United States was "very close" to ending the war with Iran.

Last week, Kharazi indicated that Iran remained open to indirect negotiations, although he had earlier told CNN that he saw "no room for diplomacy" with the US.

"Trump has deceived others and failed to honour his promises. We experienced this twice during negotiations--while talks were ongoing, they struck us," Kharazi said.

Iranian officials have warned that further assassinations would trigger retaliation against American interests, particularly technology and AI-related facilities in the region, which they accuse of aiding targeted operations.

Irish PM Criticises Trump's Rhetoric

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin criticised President Trump's threat to bomb Iran "back to the Stone Age," calling such rhetoric unacceptable.

He stressed that Iranian civilians, who are not responsible for the conflict, deserve protection.

"Everyone involved in war must prioritise civilian safety," Martin told Newstalk radio. "This conflict is causing death and destruction among people who had no role in the regime."

While condemning threats against civilians, Martin noted uncertainty over whether Trump's remarks were directed at people or infrastructure.

"We could spend endless time interpreting what President Trump says versus what is actually carried out--that has always been the case," he said.

Hours after Trump claimed US military objectives were "nearing completion," Iran responded with renewed threats, vowing to intensify its attacks until the US and Israel surrender.

In his address, Trump again warned that unless Iran agrees to end the war, the US would target its oil and energy infrastructure, threatening to bomb the country "into the Stone Age" in the coming weeks.