Iranian commanders have warned the United States about taking military action inside Iraq after the president tweeted about Iran on April 1. “Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on US troops and/or assets in Iraq. If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed!” Trump tweeted.

Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, said that it was the United States that has been involved in troop movements in the Middle East. “In the last few days American provocations and actions in Iraq and the Persian Gulf have increased,” Bagheri said at a news conference April 2. He added that the United States has been creating a media storm with accusations but that it has “intentions against resistance groups and the Popular Mobilization Units.”   

Bagheri added that Iran has been monitoring US troop activities in the region and that all of the Islamic Republic's defense forces are on alert. Referencing the rocket strikes on US bases in Iraq, Bagheri said, “The events that have taken place in the last few weeks on American bases in Iraq is a natural reaction of the people of Iraq and resistance groups in response to the assassination of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and has no connection to us.” Soleimani was an Iranian general and Muhandis a leader of the Popular Mobilization Units in Iraq.

Bagheri continued, “The Americans are well aware that the people of Iraq and the people of the region are opposed to their military presence in these countries.” He warned that the United States would face “the most severe response” if it were to take any action against Iran.