By Al Mayadeen English
Jan 24, 2026
A senior Iranian official says Tehran will treat any military strike — limited or full — as total war, warning of the harshest response.
A senior Iranian official warned on Friday that any form of military attack against Iran, regardless of its scale or type, will be considered a declaration of full-scale war and will be met with the harshest response.
“This time, we take any attack – limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, whatever they call it – as an all-out war against us, and we will respond in the hardest way possible,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Iranian official emphasized that Tehran is in a “much better” situation than during the 12-Day War, signaling increased readiness in the face of rising threats from Washington.
The statement comes after US President Donald Trump revealed that a large number of US military ships were heading toward Iran “just in case.” Trump has also threatened additional strikes if Tehran proceeds with its missile or nuclear development programs.
The warning follows unrest in Iran in late December, when sporadic peaceful economic protests escalated into violence. Iranian officials have said the protests were hijacked by rioters encouraged by US and Israeli leaders and supported by foreign intelligence networks operating inside the country.
US President Donald Trump publicly called on armed groups to seize state institutions, Iranian officials said, while also threatening military action if security forces intervened.
US, ‘Israel’ to ‘regret’ any miscalculation against Iran: IRGC
Iran’s armed forces have “their hands on the trigger” and are fully prepared to act on the orders of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Republic, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, should Iran’s enemies take any hostile action.
Major General Mohammad Pakpour, chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Corps (IRGC), said on Thursday that Iran’s enemies should avoid any miscalculation, stressing that the country’s forces are on full alert while defenses have been reinforced in the face of mounting threats.
“We warn the criminal, evil, and anti-human enemies, particularly the United States and the fake and racist Zionist regime, to learn from historical experience and what they sustained in the 12-day imposed war in June,” Pakpour said. He cautioned that any renewed aggression would result in a “more painful and regret‑inducing” response.
Additionally, Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Shura Council warned on Tuesday that any action targeting the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, would amount to a declaration of war against the entire Islamic world.
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