WANA (Aug 04) – Major General Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, said Iran was prepared to launch a strike against three locations in Ukraine following an attack on an Iranian vessel, but halted the response after Kyiv said the incident had been a mistake and Tehran decided to examine the explanation.

 

Speaking on a special news program, Rezaei said the United States had been defeated midway through what he described as “Trump’s third war against Iran,” adding that maintaining unity, resilience and adherence to the principles of “dignity, wisdom and prudence” was essential under current circumstances.

 

Rezaei referred to recent US strikes against Iran as part of what he called the third confrontation initiated by the Trump administration against Tehran, following previous 12-day and 40-day conflicts. He said Iran had previously warned that Washington would violate commitments, arguing that the United States began breaking the understanding by establishing a corridor in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz and later continuing with airstrikes.

 

He said Washington could have referred any disputes to a designated dispute-resolution mechanism involving Qatar and Saudi Arabia instead of escalating tensions.

 

US Sought Ground Operation to Open Strait of Hormuz

Rezaei, who served as IRGC commander during the Iran-Iraq War, described the recent confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Israel was not directly involved in the latest round of attacks and that the focus of US operations was on southern Iran.

 

According to Rezaei, the objective may have been to prepare the ground for a military operation aimed at opening the Strait of Hormuz or targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. He said US strikes on bridges, radar systems and some military sites were intended to weaken Iran’s logistical capabilities ahead of a possible ground operation.

 

Rezaei said US President Donald Trump had asked the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) to carry out heavier attacks, but the commander responded that the maximum available capabilities had already been used without achieving the desired outcome.

 

He described this as a sign of “miscalculations” by US military commanders.

 

US Ground Operation Plan Has Been Severely Weakened

Rezaei said Iran responded to US actions with intense and precise waves of attacks against American bases in the region, which forced the relocation of US forces and command structures.

 

He said the US command center was first moved from Qatar to Jordan and later to Israel, arguing that this meant American command and support capabilities had been pushed farther away from the battlefield.

 

“Trump’s plan was disrupted, and the third war against Iran reached a point of failure midway,” Rezaei said, adding that Iran continued its operations for two days after the US halted its attacks.

 

He said Washington had not completely abandoned the possibility of a ground operation but added that the large-scale plan he attributed to Trump would no longer be feasible and that only limited actions might remain possible.

 

Iran Was Ready to Respond to Ukraine Incident

Discussing the attack on an Iranian vessel by Ukraine, Rezaei said: “We were prepared to strike three locations in Ukraine, but after they said the attack had happened by mistake, we suspended the response to examine their explanation.”

 

He added that even if the incident was accidental, “there must be compensation for it,” and said Tehran was continuing to investigate the matter.

 

Rezaei also referred to reports about possible involvement by regional countries in attacks against Iran, saying Saudi Arabia had informed Tehran that it was not involved in attacks against Iraq and that Iran was reviewing the issue.

 

Rezaei Warns of Wider Regional Escalation

Rezaei warned that US actions could increase the risk of a broader international conflict, saying the current situation in West Asia has greater potential for escalation than Europe before World War II.

 

He described the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf as highly sensitive areas, saying attempts by the United States to establish control over the strategic waterway could draw other global powers into the conflict.

 

He also accused Washington of seeking greater NATO involvement and said recent moves by some Western countries reflected what he described as frustration and confusion following previous setbacks.

 

Iran Does Not Seek Expansion of War

Responding to accusations that Iran was seeking conflict, Rezaei said the United States was the party pursuing war and that Iran had consistently sought to prevent escalation.

 

He said Tehran entered negotiations despite concerns over US commitments in an effort to avoid war, but accused Washington of violating agreements and imposing conflict on Iran.

 

“We are not seeking to expand the war and we do not welcome conflicts involving other countries, because this could create the risk of a global war,” he said.

 

Rezaei added that diplomacy remains necessary but argued that the United States must change its behavior and fulfill its commitments for negotiations to become meaningful.

 

Iran Will Not Allow a Second Corridor in Strait of Hormuz

Addressing the Strait of Hormuz, Rezaei said Iran had acted responsibly in the waterway and that global economic security was important to Tehran.

 

He accused the United States of creating insecurity in the region and warned that continued military pressure and the deployment of US naval forces could put American ships and warships at risk.

 

“We will not allow the opening of a second corridor in the Strait of Hormuz. If they bring warships or military forces into the area, they will be targeted,” Rezaei said.

 

Call for Greater Public Role in Economy

Rezaei also discussed Iran’s economic situation, saying that the same public participation seen in political and security affairs should extend to the economic sphere.

 

He said economic growth would not be achieved solely through sanctions relief or foreign financial inflows, arguing that structural reforms, reducing barriers and moving away from a state-dominated economy were necessary.

 

Rezaei said Iran could generate around $100 billion annually through greater efficiency and savings, adding that such efforts should involve public participation and that the benefits should return to society.