ISTANBUL

The US could face another Vietnam if it deploys ground troops in the war with Iran, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh warned.

"Just read what happened in Vietnam," Khatibzadeh said in an interview with Sky News published Monday.

He stressed that American troops could face a similar outcome in Iran.

"They understand those that dragged them into this war can drag them also into a quagmire," he added, saying Iran is prepared to continue fighting as long as necessary and was not currently focused on pursuing a diplomatic solution.

The senior Iranian diplomat did not rule out negotiations but emphasized that it was up to the US and its allies to present a proposal that would bring a definitive end to the conflict.

Khatibzadeh also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging the US into the war.

"They should think twice when dealing with Iran and not take advice by those who don't know Iran, who wanted for decades to win a war against Iran with American taxpayers and American soldiers' blood.

"Netanyahu and the Israeli regime has its own agenda to make this war a win for them at the expense of everyone," he said.

Turning to the health of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, Khatibzadeh insisted that he is “healthy and in charge,” despite not having made a public appearance yet.

⁠Since Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing some 1,300 people so far, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hostilities have escalated.

⁠Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets

Earlier this month, Mojtaba was declared the successor to his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli strike on Feb. 28.