Ex-IRGC Chief Says Iran Will Deliver Crushing Response to Any New U.S. Assault
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Ex-IRGC Chief Says Iran Will Deliver Crushing Response to Any New U.S. Assault

16 January, 2026.Iran-Israel.2 sources

Key Takeaways

  • Former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief warns of decisive retaliation against any new U.S. assault
  • Iran asserts military readiness to deliver an immediate, overwhelming response to renewed U.S. attacks
  • Statement reinforces Iran's deterrence posture amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions in the Middle East

Iranian military warning

Former IRGC chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared to deliver a "crushing response" should the United States launch any new aggression, speaking in an interview with state TV (IRINN).

WORLDWEST ASIAASIA-PACIFICAFRICAUSEUROPEUKAMERICASSOCIETYARTSSPORTSCONVERSATIONS IRANPOLITICSECONOMYENERGYNUCLEAR ENERGYCULTUREDEFENSESPORTSDEFINITIVE REVENGEPEOPLE'S PRESIDENT SHOWS10 MINUTESAFRICA TODAYECONOMIC DIVIDEFACE TO FACEIN A NUTSHELLIRANIRAN TECHIRAN TODAYMIDEASTREAMPALESTINE DECLASSIFIEDSPOTLIGHTBLACK AND WHITEISRAEL WATCHBROADCAST THE WEBEXPOSÉEXPLAINERBLACK BOXMOSCOW REPORTSOBHUNSCRIPTEDWOMEN OF RESISTANCEINTERVIEWATTRITIONTRUE PROMISEGRINGOIN MY OWN VOICE # A former chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has expressed the full readiness of Iranian Armed Forces to deliver a “crushing response” to the United States if it wages a new act of aggression against the country

Press TVPress TV

He said U.S. bases in the region would be within Iranian reach and stressed that Iranians do not seek war, even as they prepare severe retaliation if attacked.

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Rezaei invoked Iran’s performance in the Iran–Iraq war as a precedent for prolonged resistance.

He credited decades of foreign plots and pressure with driving advances in Iran’s intelligence, security, economy and military technologies.

Iran unrest and responses

Rezaei’s remarks came after President Trump publicly threatened and then backed away from strikes purportedly tied to unrest in Iran.

Press TV highlighted that context to frame Tehran’s heightened warnings.

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The ex-IRGC commander described recent domestic protests over economic hardship as amplified by foreign, specifically U.S. and Israeli, influence.

He said mass pro-regime rallies thwarted a plot to exploit the unrest.

Iranian authorities announced arrests of alleged foreign-linked operatives, including suspected Mossad agents.

Iran's regional deterrence stance

Press TV says Iranian authorities consider U.S. regional assets legitimate targets if Tehran is attacked, broadening potential theaters of response.

The report says Iran is willing to retaliate while insisting it does not seek an open war, sending an assertive deterrence message for both domestic and regional audiences.

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Single-source reporting limitations

Limitations and unresolved questions: the materials supplied contain only Press TV reporting.

WORLDWEST ASIAASIA-PACIFICAFRICAUSEUROPEUKAMERICASSOCIETYARTSSPORTSCONVERSATIONS IRANPOLITICSECONOMYENERGYNUCLEAR ENERGYCULTUREDEFENSESPORTSDEFINITIVE REVENGEPEOPLE'S PRESIDENT SHOWS10 MINUTESAFRICA TODAYECONOMIC DIVIDEFACE TO FACEIN A NUTSHELLIRANIRAN TECHIRAN TODAYMIDEASTREAMPALESTINE DECLASSIFIEDSPOTLIGHTBLACK AND WHITEISRAEL WATCHBROADCAST THE WEBEXPOSÉEXPLAINERBLACK BOXMOSCOW REPORTSOBHUNSCRIPTEDWOMEN OF RESISTANCEINTERVIEWATTRITIONTRUE PROMISEGRINGOIN MY OWN VOICE # A former chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has expressed the full readiness of Iranian Armed Forces to deliver a “crushing response” to the United States if it wages a new act of aggression against the country

Press TVPress TV

That prevents cross-source comparison required to identify contradictions, alternative framings, or omitted facts (for example, independent corroboration of alleged foreign involvement in domestic protests, U.S. or Israeli official responses, or assessments from Western mainstream or alternative outlets).

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Readers should note this single-source limitation and seek additional reporting for a fuller, multi-perspective picture.

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