IRGC Official Says Israel Too Weak for War with Iran

Brigadier General Yadollah Javani, deputy political chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said in an interview with state television that Israel is too weak to engage in a war with Iran. His remarks came amid recent appointments of senior IRGC commanders, which he described as reflecting a "transformational" approach to Iran's defense doctrine.

Javani noted that the newly appointed commanders are all veterans of the Iran-Iraq war, having proven themselves in battle after the martyrdom of senior commanders. He said the appointment decrees issued by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, used language tailored to current conditions. As examples, he cited phrases in the decree appointing Hojjatoleslam Hossein Taeb as head of the Basij, including "intelligence network" and "every Iranian a Basij," which he said indicate a forward-looking approach.

He further explained that the IRGC command under Major General Ahmad Vahidi has been tasked with achieving "maximum deterrence" and adopting a new posture in which defensive operations could take on an offensive character. "We have never been the ones to start a war, but since we are in the middle of a war and the enemy is seeking opportunities, the enemy should learn from these decrees and their messages that our armed forces will adopt transformational approaches," Javani said.

He added, "The enemy must know it cannot carry out surprise actions against us and catch us off guard. Perhaps it should be the one expecting strategic surprises." Javani also referenced the previous war, which he said was launched by the enemy with a "miscalculation" and failed to achieve its objectives. He noted that Israel's entry during the 12-day war came only with American backing, and asserted that the Zionist regime is not capable of entering a war with Iran.

According to Mehr News Agency, these statements were made in an interview with state television, highlighting the IRGC's assessment of regional threats and its readiness to respond.