Iran Warns of Escalated Conflict if Attacked Again by US and Israel

Tehran, Iran – Iran's military has issued a stern warning, stating that any future large-scale conflict with the United States and Israel would be prolonged and more devastating than their adversaries anticipate. The Iranian armed forces indicated their readiness to employ new weaponry and strategies against the US, Israel, and other nations, potentially marking the third significant confrontation between these entities since June of last year. Recent indicators suggest that the conflict initiated by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28 could reignite following the US midterm elections. President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that the war with Iran would conclude "very soon one way or the other," urging Tehran to accept a deal or face severe repercussions. Hossein Kanani Moghaddam, a former senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), informed Al Jazeera that despite substantial damage to Iran's armed forces during earlier US and Israeli strikes this year, the military is now operationally stronger than in previous conflicts. "In terms of offense, our target database has significantly expanded, the range, accuracy and warheads of our missiles have improved and our drone capabilities have increased," he stated. He further noted that new enemy assets are being identified and operations are being planned for additional geographical areas. Arkaminia added that previously undisclosed capabilities and targets would be revealed and utilized if Iran faces another attack. Reports indicate that commanders from Iran’s General Staff of Armed Forces, the IRGC, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Army recently convened with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to strategize responses to potential future attacks. They asserted that the response would be immediate and could extend beyond the West Asia region. Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesman for the IRGC, declared on Sunday evening that the corps is "100 percent ready" to counter another assault, aiming for "maximum deterrence" in the near future. Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia stated that commanders would leverage "asymmetric warfare" tactics to offset the technological superiority of US military equipment. He also mentioned that "some weaponry was renovated and new equipment was added along with new tactics" during the brief ceasefire period following the June memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US. Last month, state television featured footage of an underground drone production line. Authorities also displayed an enhanced version of the Arash attack drone, claiming its warhead capacity had doubled to 100kg with improved guidance systems. A Reuters investigation last week revealed that numerous military agencies affiliated with Iran’s defense establishment have circumvented sanctions, channeling billions into military imports to resupply the IRGC. Between January 2025 and June of this year, imports from China, Russia, and Germany intended to bolster missile and drone production included rocket propellants, explosives, detonators, titanium, and heavy-duty trucks suitable for use as launchers. Many Iranian missile defense systems, radars, and other equipment sustained damage during the war. However, Kanani Moghaddam asserted that existing and newly developed systems are achieving greater accuracy, citing the successful targeting of a US-built F-35 and other warplanes and drones as examples of capabilities that can be replicated and expanded. "At sea, we have shown that we can easily target supertankers," he commented, referring to transit through the Strait of Hormuz which Iranian authorities deem "unauthorised." He indicated that Iranian attacks on US Navy vessels in September had deterred them from entering the critical waterway since. Nevertheless, the US has maintained its naval blockade on southern Iranian ports, while Iran’s civilian population and infrastructure remain vulnerable should the war resume. Tehran and other cities across the country lack adequate shelters or early warning systems for civilian protection. Authorities have not reported any advancements regarding promised shelters or improvements to public warning arrangements. Iran’s electricity grid, along with oil and gas facilities, petrochemical and steel manufacturers, and transportation infrastructure, could also become targets, exacerbating the ongoing economic crisis. During both previous wars, many high-ranking political and military figures of the Islamic Republic were casualties of US and Israeli strikes. The new supreme leader has not been publicly seen or heard from since succeeding his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in early March, reportedly for security reasons. This has led to intensified domestic security measures and prompted some within the establishment to voice concerns about intelligence failures and the protection of leadership. "We have been hit and hit hard," remarked state-linked analyst Hamzeh Rahim Safavi during a televised debate on Saturday. "The main cause is intelligence weakness, but no one talks about it or is held accountable." The analyst, son of Yahya Rahim Safavi, a former IRGC commander-in-chief and current senior military adviser to the supreme leader, suggested that calls for acquiring a nuclear bomb would not address intelligence and security deficiencies. However, Esmaeil Kowsari, a former IRGC division commander and current member of the parliamentary national-security commission, told local media last week that despite the assassinations of the supreme leader and others, "the enemies did not reach their main goals." He specified these goals as overthrowing the Islamic Republic and fragmenting Iran. Kowsari concluded, "On the eve of their elections, the Americans are trying to pretend that they have achieved victory by causing a ruckus and launching psychological operations, but that is not the truth."