A senior military adviser to Iran's supreme leader warned Sunday that another war with Israel or the United States was likely, dismissing the current ceasefire as just another phase in the conflict. According to Iran International, Revolutionary Guards general Yahya Rahim Safavi declared the current situation is not a ceasefire but rather a stage of ongoing warfare.
"We are not in a ceasefire, we are in a stage of war. No protocol, regulation, or agreement has been written between us and the US or Israel," Safavi told Iran International. The general added his prediction that another conflict may occur, stating "I think another war may happen, and after that, there may be no more wars."
Safavi's comments represent the latest in a series of combative remarks from military leaders on both sides, with Israel's army chief vowing readiness for further strikes and Iran's General Staff warning of "a far stronger response" to any future attacks by the US or Israel. The Iranian general argued that his country must build power at both the regional and global levels.
"The Americans and the Zionists say they create peace through power; therefore Iran must also become strong, because in the system of nature the weak are trampled," Safavi explained to Iran International. Tehran's leadership continues to project defiance despite the threat of renewed UN sanctions and worsening shortages of power and water at home, developments that have led Iran's moderates to call for a change of course in foreign policy.
Safavi outlined what he described as Iran's strategy for deterrence. "We must strengthen our diplomatic, media, missile, drone and cyber offensive strategy," the general stated. "We, the military, do scenario-planning, we see the worst case, and we prepare a plan for it."
The general's comments come two months after Israel launched a surprise military campaign on June 13 targeting military and nuclear sites, killing hundreds of military personnel, nuclear scientists and civilians.
A US-brokered ceasefire came into effect on June 24, which ended the 12-day air war. Official data published this week suggests both Iran and Israel suffered economically during the 12-day war in June.
