WANA (Jul 17) – Senior Iranian officials issued strong warnings to Israel and emphasized the preparedness of Iran’s armed forces during a ceremony honoring two fallen high-ranking military commanders in Tehran.

 

Hossein Taeb, Advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), spoke on the sidelines of the memorial event held in the Fatemeh al-Zahra (S) Hussainiya in Tehran. The ceremony commemorated Major General Mehdi Rabani and Major General Gholamreza Mehrabi, former deputies of intelligence and operations in the Armed Forces General Staff.

 

Referring to recent political instability in Israel, Taeb stated, “Following Netanyahu’s defeat in his confrontation with Iran, we witnessed a swift return of his court hearings and the deterioration of his political standing in the Knesset. This reflects growing internal pressure, as his tactic of fueling wars to unite the Israeli public backfires once the conflict ends.”

 

He accused the Israeli Prime Minister of orchestrating military strikes, such as the one on Syria, to deflect attention from domestic issues, including legal troubles. “Netanyahu’s behavior proves he observes no rules in attacking others, whether allies or foes,” Taeb said.

 

He added that recent developments signal “Netanyahu’s desperate last attempts and the accelerating internal collapse of Israel.” While warning that the Israeli leader might resort to further provocations to externalize domestic turmoil, he stressed, “The Iranian people have stood firmly behind their armed forces.”

The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the former Intelligence Organization of  IRGC, Hossein Taeb – Social Media / WANA News Agency

Highlighting Iran’s military response, Taeb noted that the precise targeting of key sites in Israeli-occupied territories and operations at Al Udeid Airbase demonstrated Iran’s capability, unity, and popular support.

 

He emphasized the need for national unity in the post-conflict phase: “Our people have maintained their cohesion. Now, the country’s elites and officials must work to mobilize our capabilities and address essential public needs during this post-war period.”

 

Regarding the 12-day conflict earlier this year, Taeb said, “The enemy believed that by assassinating our commanders, they would disrupt our structure. But, by God’s grace, the Iranian people and armed forces showed their resilience, and within 24 hours, delivered a crushing response.”

 

He concluded, “Today, our preparedness is greater than ever. Our intelligence dominance is expanding across all fronts. If, God forbid, the enemy makes another misstep, they will face an even more decisive response.”

 

Esmail Kowsari, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, echoed these sentiments. Speaking at the same ceremony, he described Israel as a “rabid dog unleashed on civilians in several countries” and warned, “Israel should know it cannot continue on this path. Soon, it will face consequences that will make it regret its actions.”

 

When asked about the potential for renewed Israeli aggression, Kowsari said: “If Israel repeats its folly, it will receive a blow even more severe than Operation True Promise 3.”

 

Commenting on the threat by European countries to trigger the JCPOA’s “snapback” sanctions mechanism, Kowsari remarked, “If they’re truthful, why didn’t they stop the U.S. from tearing up the nuclear deal? In this context, law means nothing. Power must be the response.”

 

He added that Iran is prepared for possible repercussions: “Even if the mechanism is triggered, the most they can do is reimpose sanctions—ones we’ve already endured. This isn’t the big deal they pretend it to be.”

Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Intelligent Minister Esmail Khatib also addressed reporters at the ceremony. Referring to Israel’s internal vulnerabilities, he stated: “The Zionist regime must be met with internal strategic offensives. Just as our military’s effective missile strikes forced them into retreat, our intelligence and security agencies are fully engaged in countering their infiltration.”

 

Khatib pointed out that despite plans to destabilize the Islamic Republic, “Iran enjoyed 12 days of internal security during the conflict.”

 

Addressing concerns about military threats like drones and loitering munitions, he said, “These are military-specific challenges, and our forces are actively working on defense strategies to counter them.”