Iran

An advisor to the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force has warned that any country or force abetting the United States in a new act of aggression against Iran will be considered a “legitimate target” for the country’s reprisal attacks. Brigadier General Ali Belali made the remarks in an interview with Iran's Arabic-language al-Alam television news channel after Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Commander-in-Chief of Iran’s Armed Forces Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei ordered senior military commanders to ensure that any level or type of enemy threat is met with a “geographically unrestricted response.”

Asked about the Leader’s directive, he said, “In my assessment, when geography is described as having no limitations, this could encompass all regions. “ “Any force or country that assists the US in its aggression against us could become a legitimate target for us. Of course, this depends on the country in question and the extent to which it cooperates and coordinates with the United States.” General Ali Balali, senior adviser to the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, says that any country or force assisting the US in a new attack will be a legitimate target. — Highlights (@highlightsnews1) November 5, 2026 Follow: https://t.co/QoHk2icbzQ pic.twitter.com/0y4iFboB8B He also emphasized that Iran’s target list will be disclosed at the appropriate time, when the enemy once again make the mistake of imposing another war on the nation.

He further stressed that the indigenization of Iran’s missile, drone, and air defense industries has enabled the country to maintain its defensive capabilities without relying on external factors and establish deterrence. The US and the Israeli regime waged their first illegal war against Iran, which lasted 12 days, in June 2025. Their second aggression began on February 28 and came to a halt in early April after 40 days. In both wars, Iran’s resistance and successful retaliatory operations forced the aggressors to accept a ceasefire.

Iran has also maintained a tight grip on the Strait of Hormuz since the early days of the second imposed war in response to Washington’s acts of mischief in West Asia. Belali hailed the Islamic Republic for performing significantly better than in previous conflicts in terms of sustaining operations, delivering strikes, and maintaining the offensive tempo. Meanwhile, he said that Iran’s missile bases are distributed across the country, extending from the northeast to the northwest and southeast, adding that the facilities provide sufficient range to reach targets in the Israeli-occupied territories and American military installations.

“These facilities are designed to withstand destruction by conventional weapons, as they are located deep underground and engineered to support sustained deployment and continuous operations,” he added. The IRGC advisor also cited Khorramshahr missile, which releases 80 submunitions, and the Fattah-2 missile with maneuvering capabilities, as examples of Iranian projectiles difficult for enemy air defense systems to intercept. With a range of 500 kilometers, he continued, the Persian Gulf missile was designed to engage moving targets aimed at driving US naval vessels out of the Persian Gulf region.

Meanwhile, he said that Washington and Tel Aviv have spent enormous sums on advanced air defense systems, which are insufficient to withstand Iranian weapons. “While the opposing side has significant capabilities, the sheer volume of weapons we deploy, combined with the tactics we employ, substantially reduces the effectiveness of its systems,” he asserted. Additionally, Belali said that the adversaries have resorted to concealment and censorship regarding the destruction caused by Iranian missiles.

He further warned that no location within the 2,000-kilometer range of Iranian weapons can be considered secure for American troops, adding, “The United States should withdraw its forces from within this range, leave West Asia, and avoid exposing itself to risks.” Moreover, he praised efforts undertaken by Iranian Armed Forces for bringing the production capacity of missiles and drones to a level which needs additional facilities to store.