Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Iran has issued a stern warning to the United States and Israel, declaring that it is fully prepared for a long and intense war and will not bow to any pressure. Iran’s military and political leadership have released a series of statements indicating that the conflict is far from over.
Ali Mohammad Naeini, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said Iran has the capacity to sustain a high-intensity war for at least six months. He also claimed that several of the country’s newer missile and drone systems have not yet been deployed.
Naeini warned that if US and Israeli attacks continue, Iran could respond with even more powerful military action.
Claims of Heavy Civilian Casualties
According to Iran’s Deputy Health Minister Dr. Ali Jafarian, more than 1,255 people have been killed and nearly 12,000 injured in US and Israeli strikes over the past nine days. He said the majority of the victims were civilians.
Iranian officials also stated that several residential buildings, hospitals and relief centres have been damaged in the attacks. A video released by the Iranian Red Crescent reportedly shows rescue workers retrieving bodies from the rubble of a collapsed building in Tehran.
Energy Infrastructure Targeted, Warning to Global Markets
Iran has also accused the US and Israel of targeting its energy infrastructure. Ibrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson associated with the IRGC, said that by attacking energy facilities, the United States had opened a “new chapter” in the war, “If they can afford to pay $200 per barrel for oil, then they can continue this game,” he warned.
Experts say that if the conflict drags on, it could have serious consequences for global oil markets and the international economy.
Military Backs New Supreme Leader
Meanwhile, a major political development has also emerged in Iran. The country’s armed forces have expressed support for Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, congratulating him and pledging their loyalty.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that in the current sensitive circumstances, the new leader can guide the country, and following his leadership is both a religious and national duty.
Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Mojtaba Khamenei possesses the leadership capability to guide the country based on his father’s teachings and experience.
“Iran Will Not Bow to Pressure”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country would not bow to any pressure and would not allow even an inch of its territory to be taken.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also made a strong statement, saying, “We bow only before Allah.”
Iran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Seyed Ali Mousavi, said that if US and Israeli attacks continue, Iran will continue to exercise its right to self-defence.
Fears of Wider Regional War
Analysts believe that with escalating attacks and increasingly sharp rhetoric, the conflict could evolve into a broader regional war. The international community has expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and has called for an immediate ceasefire.
