‘New weapons, new targets’: Iran warns US, says prepared for prolonged war
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that any fresh US attack would trigger the use of new weapons and attacks on previously untargeted locations. Tehran says it is prepared for a prolonged conflict as tensions remain high and diplomatic efforts continue.
Written by
Jyoti Mukherjee
Tehran: Iran has issued a fresh warning to the United States, saying it is prepared for a prolonged war and would change both its weapons and the geographical scope of its military response if Washington launches another attack.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said on Monday that Iran would introduce weapons with new capabilities and target locations that had not been attacked previously if hostilities escalate again. His remarks were reported by Iran’s Fars news agency and cited by Reuters.
Iran warns of ‘new weapons’ and ‘new targets’
Mohebbi said a renewed US offensive would lead to “significant changes” in Iran’s defensive and counteroffensive operations.
According to the IRGC spokesperson, those changes would include a shift in the geography of the war as well as the weapons and military equipment used by Iranian forces. He also said Iran had identified new targets that had not been struck during the earlier phase of the conflict.
The warning comes as Tehran says it has received information that Washington could resume military action. Iran’s central military command said on Sunday that it believed the US was preparing for renewed strikes, although it did not provide details supporting that assessment.
Tehran says it is ready for a long war
The IRGC also said it was prepared for a long-term confrontation.
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that any renewed attack could trigger retaliation against US bases and interests in the region. Tehran has also warned countries that provide territory or facilities for US military operations that they could be treated as participants in the conflict.
The latest comments indicate that Iran is preparing for the possibility that the confrontation could continue even as diplomatic channels remain open.
Trump weighs options as tensions remain high
The warnings from Tehran come as US President Donald Trump considers his next steps on Iran. Trump has said he is in a “deciding mode” and has discussed several options, including additional military action, economic pressure or a negotiated agreement.
Trump has also indicated that he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has travelled to New York for the UN gathering, while Qatar has been involved in efforts to facilitate communication between Washington and Tehran.
Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint
The confrontation has also affected the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global energy shipments. Shipping traffic through the strait has declined amid the conflict, while Iran and the US remain at odds over access and security in the region.
The wider regional situation has also become more complicated following attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement on Saudi targets, including sites in Riyadh and an Aramco facility in Yanbu. Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia has adjusted some oil-export routes in response to disruptions affecting its East-West pipeline.
Diplomatic efforts continue alongside military warnings
Despite the increasingly forceful rhetoric, diplomatic efforts have not completely stopped. Qatar has been communicating with both sides and seeking a path back to negotiations.
Iran has reportedly set conditions for renewed talks, including an end to US attacks, the release of frozen Iranian funds and changes concerning the naval blockade. The US position and Iran’s demands remain substantially apart, according to current reports.
For now, Iran's latest warning signals preparations for a possible renewed military phase, but it does not by itself establish that a new US attack is imminent. The situation remains fluid as Washington weighs military and diplomatic options and regional tensions continue.
Iran Warns US of New Weapons, Targets in Prolonged War
Iran's IRGC warns the US that any fresh attack could bring new weapons and previously untargeted locations as Tehran says it is prepared for a prolonged war.
Category: World / Middle East
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