Key facts
- A senior IRGC commander warned Iran's enemies to "anticipate strategic surprises."
- The commander indicated Iran is prepared to shift from a defensive to an offensive military stance.
- The comments were made following new appointment decrees emphasizing maximum deterrence.
- The IRGC stated that military actions will take an "offensive form" to deliver proactive surprises.
A senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stark warning to adversaries, stating they should "anticipate strategic surprises." Brigadier General Yadollah Javani, the IRGC's political deputy, indicated that the country is prepared to transition from a defensive military stance to a more offensive one.
Javani told state media that enemies "cannot catch us off-guard" and instead "must anticipate strategic surprises." He added that "whatever is necessary to defend this land, ensure security, and neutralise enemy threats will be executed at the appropriate time." These remarks follow the appointment of Major General Ahmad Vahidi as IRGC commander-in-chief, whose mandate reportedly emphasizes maximum deterrence and a proactive approach to neutralizing threats.