Iran has issued a stern warning, vowing to deploy "new weapons" against the United States if former President Donald Trump escalates strikes on the nation. The threat comes in the wake of the US midterm elections, which Iran's paramilitary force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), described as a "disaster" for Trump and a consequence of "America's heavy defeat in the war it started against Iran."
Mohammad Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran's parliament, stated that Americans had voted "NO TO WAR" and that Iran endorsed this message. He added, "If the US [government] betrays their public will to serve international paymasters and blackmailers, it will learn our NO comes with a Nightmare."
A spokesman for the IRGC indicated that any future action by the US or Israel would be met with a response "differently than before, using a new doctrine and new conventional weapons technology."
These declarations follow recent "defensive" US strikes on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. The island has reportedly been developed into a military base by Iran, capable of launching anti-ship missiles and drones from underground facilities. Concurrently, the US has amassed a significant naval presence in the Arabian Sea, including carrier strike groups, raising concerns about a potential escalation.
Despite the heightened rhetoric, President Trump stated he had no immediate plans for further strikes against Iran, but emphasized the US was "locked and loaded if we need to go." He expressed satisfaction with the current standoff, suggesting "we seem to be getting everything we want."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously advocated for renewed strikes on Iran post-elections. However, Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, cautioned against trusting that shifts in US politics or concessions would deter American hostility. He accused Washington of seeking Iran's unconditional surrender and warned that any "slightest inclination towards surrendering to the hegemonic enemy will squander the enormous gains achieved."
In Britain, Prime Minister Andy Burnham called for de-escalation, suggesting the world had an opportunity to focus on resolving the conflict and addressing the cost of living, sentiments he believes were echoed by voters in the United States.