Fmr. Iranian FM calls on Tehran to kidnap thousands of US soldiers from military bases

What Happened

Former Iranian foreign minister and current MP Manouchehr Mottaki, in a Wednesday interview on Iranian state media, called for Iran to launch a ground war to infiltrate a US military base in the Middle East and take thousands of American soldiers hostage, as retaliation for US strikes and threats against Iran's Kharg Island and southern oil facilities. He separately described the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding talks as a 'deception plan' by the US and demanded 'vengeance' for strikes that allegedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Iran International. On the same day, the IRGC-run Fars News Agency called on Kuwaitis and Jordanians to expel US forces from bases in their countries, labelling them 'child-killers' and 'occupiers.' Concurrently, US President Donald Trump told Fox News that the US would strike Iranian power plants and bridges 'next week' unless a deal is reached, citing ongoing CENTCOM strikes along the Strait of Hormuz and Operation Epic Fury, launched on February 28 to counter Iran's nuclear efforts.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The rhetoric from both sides signals a sharp escalation beyond proxy and aerial exchanges, with explicit discussion of ground operations against US forces and infrastructure strikes inside Iran. Mottaki's public advocacy for hostage-taking reveals hardline sentiment within Iran's political elite, while Trump's infrastructure threats raise the stakes of the nuclear standoff. The IRGC's direct call to Arab populations challenges US basing arrangements in the Gulf, potentially inflaming local politics and increasing risk to deployed troops.

Watch For

Whether Iran's Supreme Leader or military command endorses Mottaki's proposal for ground operations; US reinforcement or repositioning of forces at Gulf bases; actual US strikes on Iranian power plants/bridges after Trump's one-week ultimatum; official responses from Kuwait and Jordan to IRGC expulsion demands; new IAEA reports or diplomatic moves in the Oman backchannel; and potential for increased disruptions or attacks in the Strait of Hormuz following Trump's reference to ongoing CENTCOM strikes.