A top military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader warned on Sunday that another war with Israel or the United States was likely, dismissing the current ceasefire as just another phase in the conflict.
“We are not in a ceasefire, we are in a stage of war. No protocol, regulation, or agreement has been written between us and the US or Israel,” said senior Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) general Yahya Rahim Safavi.
“I think another war may happen, and after that, there may be no more wars.”
Safavi’s comments is the latest in a series of combative remarks from military leaders on both sides, with Israel’s army chief vowing readiness for further strikes and Iran’s General Staff warning of “a far stronger response” to any future attacks by US or Israel.
Safavi argued that Iran must build power at both the regional and global levels.
“The Americans and the Zionists say they create peace through power; therefore Iran must also become strong, because in the system of nature the weak are trampled,” he said.
Tehran’s leadership continues to project defiance despite the threat of renewed UN sanctions and worsening shortages of power and water at home—that has led Iran’s moderates to call for a change of course in foreign policy.
Safavi outlined what he called Iran’s strategy for deterrence.
“We must strengthen our diplomatic, media, missile, drone and cyber offensive strategy,” he said, “we, the military, do scenario-planning, we see the worst case, and we prepare a plan for it.”
Iran-Israel war
Safavi’s comments come two months after Israel launched a surprise military campaign on June 13 targeting military and nuclear sites, killing hundreds of military personnel, nuclear scientists and civilians.
Iran responded with missile strikes that killed 31 civilians and one off-duty soldier, according to official figures published by the Israeli government.
The Islamic Republic says 1,062 people were also killed by Israel during the 12-day conflict, including 786 military personnel and 276 civilians.
On June 22, the US carried out airstrikes on Iran’s key nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
A US brokered ceasefire came into effect on June 24, which ended the 12 day air war.
Official data published this week suggests both Iran and Israel suffered economicallyduring the 12-day war in June.
