Higher Readiness and a Coming Response: The Iranian Army Shapes the Deterrence Equation and Dismantles the Illusion of Threats

At a moment charged with threats and escalation, Iranian Army Commander Major General Amir Hatami delivered a clear message that leaves no room for interpretation: Iran today is not what it was yesterday. The readiness of its armed forces has surpassed all previous stages, and deterrence has become a firmly established reality rather than a political slogan. These statements signal the contours of a new phase in regional power equations and affirm that the era of testing Tehran’s patience has come to an end.

Readiness Beyond the Pre-War Phase

Major General Hatami affirmed that the Iranian armed forces have reached a level of preparedness far exceeding their status prior to the imposed Twelve-Day War, noting that recent field experience marked a strategic turning point in the army’s structure and its defensive and offensive systems.
He explained that this readiness is not confined to a single branch, but encompasses ground, air, and naval forces, as well as air defense systems and joint operational coordination—ensuring comprehensive deterrence and the protection of national sovereignty.

No Threat Will Go Unanswered

In a decisive tone, the Iranian Army commander stressed that the escalation of hostile rhetoric against the Islamic Republic constitutes a direct threat and will not be left without an appropriate response.
He underscored that any aggression against Iranian territory will be met with a stronger retaliation, and that the hand of any aggressor will be cut—an explicit equation that redraws the rules of engagement and closes the door on betting on media intimidation or political pressure.

Deterrence as a Strategic Choice, Not a Temporary Tactic

Hatami’s remarks reflect the transition of Iranian deterrence from the stage of declaration to that of practical entrenchment. According to him, the army is closely monitoring regional developments at the highest levels of readiness, indicating that Tehran treats threats as part of a long-term confrontation rather than transient incidents.
In this context, he emphasized that any military adventurism against Iran would not remain limited in scope, but would lead to wide-ranging repercussions—an explicit warning about the cost of escalation in a region already sitting on a powder keg.

Sanctions and Unrest: Other Faces of War

The Iranian Army commander did not overlook that confrontation with adversaries extends beyond the military battlefield to the arenas of economics, media, and internal security.
He described unjust sanctions as part of the enemy’s program to harm the Iranian people through economic crises, stressing that the real objective is to target society from within, not merely apply political pressure.
He also addressed recent unrest, noting that protest is natural in any country, but its rapid transformation into riots reveals enemy planning and exploitation aimed at destabilization.

The Twelve-Day War: A Major Turning Point

In assessing that imposed confrontation, Major General Hatami considered that the armed forces—across the army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and security forces—achieved a historic accomplishment thanks to high-level coordination with the supreme leadership and the people’s support for their defense institutions.
He called for studying the causes and roots of that war to understand the nature of the ongoing conflict and the position of each party within it, affirming that today’s Iranian army is proceeding along a “clear path” and has not wasted a moment in fulfilling its duty to defend independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the Islamic republican system.

An Equation Open to All Possibilities

In summary, Tehran draws a firm equation through these statements: readiness is not a display, deterrence is not a slogan, and whoever tests them will pay the price.
It is a message that goes beyond Iran to the entire region, conveying that the era of imposing realities by force has ended, and that the balance of deterrence is now tilting in favor of a camp that possesses both the will and the capability.