Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a direct warning to Washington on Monday, September 21, 2026, declaring that any renewed U.S. military strikes against Iranian territory will trigger a major escalation featuring previously unmapped targets and newly deployed, high-capability weaponry.
Speaking during a live state television broadcast from Tehran on Monday morning, IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi announced that Iran’s defense posture and retaliatory framework will undergo “significant changes” if the conflict expands.
”If there is a new attack, our defense and attacks will change seriously,” Mohebbi stated. “We will introduce new weapons with new capabilities into the battlefield, and the world will be surprised.”
Addressing the scope of potential responses, Mohebbi revealed that military planners in Tehran have compiled a fresh targeting list.
”Our targets are no longer necessarily the same as before,” he said. “We have identified new targets that have not yet been attacked.”
He added that future operations would redefine the “geography of weapons and war” in the region, signaling that Iranian forces are prepared for a prolonged conflict.
The IRGC spokesperson’s address comes amid a protracted stalemate nearly seven months into heightened military exchanges between Tehran, Washington, and their respective regional allies.
The warning follows a September 19 report from Iran’s military central command indicating potential U.S. plans for renewed military actions in the Middle East.
State media highlighted recent joint statements by the Armed Forces General Staff and Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, cautioning that regional airspaces or bases used to facilitate strikes against Iran will face direct retaliation.
While U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) maintains that previous strikes near strategic choke points like the Strait of Hormuz were self-defense measures, Iranian leadership insists its armed forces are fully prepared for a long-term engagement if Washington does not retreat from further military action.
