Iran warns of new surprises and no restraint if attacked again

Tehran will deliver a far stronger response to any future attacks by the United States or Israel, the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces said in a statement on Saturday.

“Once again, we firmly warn the criminal America, the malicious and brutal Zionist regime to abandon conspiracies and hostility against a powerful and invincible Iran,” said the General Staff of the Armed Forces in the statement marking the anniversary of the release of Iranian war prisoners from Iraq.

"In the event of any miscalculation or satanic action, what prevented us from wider operations during the 12-day imposed war will no longer apply," the military warned.

"This time they will face new surprises and far more crushing blows."

Israel’s military chief said on Thursday the army is prepared to launch more strikes on Iran if necessary, after what he described as a successful preemptive war in June that halted an emerging existential threat to Israel.

“We struck Iran and its axis, whose declared aim was our destruction,” chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said at a military college change of command ceremony.

On June 13, Israel launched land and air strikes targeting senior Iranian military leaders, nuclear scientists, and politicians, while damaging or destroying Iranian air defenses and nuclear facilities.

Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities and military sites. On the ninth day of fighting, the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites. Iran then struck a US base in Qatar before a US-brokered ceasefire ended the conflict.

Zamir said the campaign in June sent a clear message that Israel "would not allow its enemies to become stronger with capabilities that will endanger its existence and will be willing to pay a heavy price to ensure its existence and future."

"If necessary, we will know how to act again with precision, intensity and lethality."