Iran Claims Capture of American Soldiers Amid Rising Tensions
Iran's Security Chief Makes Bold Claims
Ali Larijani, Iran's leading security official, announced that multiple American soldiers have been taken captive since hostilities began between Iran and the United States on February 28. However, he did not specify the exact number of soldiers involved.
Larijani stated that he received reports regarding the captured troops. In a message shared on X, he claimed, “It has been reported to me that several American soldiers have been taken prisoner. But the Americans claim that they have been killed in action. Despite their futile efforts, the truth is not something they can hide for too long.”
In response, the U.S. military refuted these claims, asserting that no American troops have been captured and labeling the statement as false, according to reports. This assertion comes amid escalating tensions following a week of military confrontations between the two nations.
Larijani's Warning to President Trump
What Did Larijani Say About US President Donald Trump?
During an interview with Iranian state television, Larijani issued a stern warning to President Donald Trump regarding the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He accused Trump of mistakenly believing he could execute a swift operation against Iran akin to actions taken in Venezuela, a notion that Larijani claims has proven to be misguided.
He remarked, “Trump got a taste of what happened in Venezuela and liked it, thinking he could quickly do the same in Iran. Now he’s stuck.” Larijani emphasized that Iran would persist in seeking retribution, stating, “We will not leave him alone. He must pay the price for what he did. He killed our leader and martyred more than 1,000 of our people. This is not a simple matter.”
He reiterated this warning in a post on his X account, asserting, “We won't leave him alone until reciprocating what he did.”
Larijani also cautioned neighboring nations against permitting their territories to be utilized for attacks on Iran. His remarks followed an apology from Masoud Pezeshkian to Arab neighbors amid escalating regional tensions.
In a televised discussion, Larijani urged regional governments to prevent the United States from launching military operations against Iran from their lands. He stated, “Countries in the region must either stop the United States from using their territory against Iran themselves, or we will do it.”
Larijani mentioned that two regional countries had expressed their intention to prevent such attacks, but Iran remains skeptical about these assurances. He noted, “Two regional countries have said they will prevent attacks by the United States from their soil, although we find it unlikely. We will wait and see. If they prevent it, we will have no issue with them.”
Additionally, Larijani addressed relations with Azerbaijan, asserting that Iran has no disputes with the country but warned that any hostile actions originating from its territory would provoke a response. He stated, “We have no issue with Azerbaijan, but if a conspiracy or flights against Iran are carried out from that country, we will respond.”