IRGC: Iran Ready for More Complex War with Israel

Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesman for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, in September. (defapress)
Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesman for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, in September. (defapress)
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IRGC: Iran Ready for More Complex War with Israel

Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesman for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, in September. (defapress)
Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesman for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, in September. (defapress)

Iran is prepared for a more complex confrontation than the 12-day war with Israel last June, said Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesman for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), downplaying the possibility of renewed hostilities between the two sides.

Highlighting Iran's missile power and the level of preparedness, Naini told the semi-official Mehr news agency that “the enemy is not ready for a new war” with Iran.

He offered a new account of the shocking early moments of the conflict with Israel and the death of several of Iran’s most distinguished military commanders.

“The enemy is nowhere near having the capacity for war anytime soon,” he said, stressing that talk about renewed conflict is more psychological warfare than a real threat.

“The enemy’s strategy is to construct a narrative of victory from the previous war and to produce fear of a new war.”

Moreover, Naini denied that the Israeli attack in June was not foreseen by the country’s leaders.

He said since February 2024, Tehran had assumed that war was “inevitable” and that senior commanders were constantly assessing and overseeing combat readiness in all aspects - from weapons and equipment to tactics and technology.

“Immediately after the enemy’s surprise attack, which resulted in the killing of several of our commanders at operational bases and headquarters, the command cycle was swiftly restored, and our forces were fully mobilized to respond in less than an hour,” he asserted.

“The 12‑day war was a full‑scale technological, missile‑driven, and aerial confrontation - a genuinely hybrid war,” he said.

Immediately after the Israeli attack, he said the command was swiftly restored, and Iran’s forces were fully mobilized to respond in less than an hour.

“For example, the Aerospace operational units, despite a 12-hour delay due to new appointments, were fully prepared and carried out their historic missile operation. This level of readiness was the result of years of struggle and force-building by these commanders,” Naini said.

About possible renewed conflict with Israel, the spokesperson said: “We have no concerns about threats.”

He said Iran’s armed forces are continuously building strength and innovating.

“We are focused on nothing else. Every branch of the armed forces is striving to deliver a response that is fully innovative in tactics, technology, and methods, surpassing even what was demonstrated during the 12-Day War.”

“If the enemy commits another act of folly, it will face a far more decisive and regret‑inducing response. We are prepared even for a more complex war,” he declared.

He warned internal parties against internal divisions that will only serve the enemy.



UK Detains Sanctioned Oil Tanker Believed to be Linked to Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and his wife Victoria (R) attend the King's Birthday Parade "Trooping the Colour" in London on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Toby Shepheard / AFP)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and his wife Victoria (R) attend the King's Birthday Parade "Trooping the Colour" in London on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Toby Shepheard / AFP)
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UK Detains Sanctioned Oil Tanker Believed to be Linked to Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and his wife Victoria (R) attend the King's Birthday Parade "Trooping the Colour" in London on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Toby Shepheard / AFP)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and his wife Victoria (R) attend the King's Birthday Parade "Trooping the Colour" in London on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Toby Shepheard / AFP)

Britain is investigating a sanctioned tanker that is suspected of being part of the Russian “shadow fleet,” shipping oil in violation of international sanctions over Moscow’s war on Ukraine, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday.

British armed forces boarded and detained the vessel, the Smyrtos, on Sunday in the English Channel, in what the country’s Defense Ministry called “the first UK-led operation of its kind.”

The vessel will be held and monitored off the south coast of England for investigation, according to a statement by the Defense Ministry.

The operation was carried out “in close coordination” with French authorities, who have previously intercepted a number of vessels linked to the “shadow fleet.”

Russia is believed to be using a fleet of hundreds of ships to evade sanctions over its war against Ukraine.

“This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide,” The Associated Press quoted Starmer as saying.

UK authorities said that such operations were “directly bearing down on the resources sustaining Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and reducing its capacity to threaten security across Europe and beyond."


Qatari Delegation in Tehran for Middle East War Talks

FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past a banner with a picture of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on a street in Tehran, Iran June 7, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past a banner with a picture of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on a street in Tehran, Iran June 7, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
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Qatari Delegation in Tehran for Middle East War Talks

FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past a banner with a picture of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on a street in Tehran, Iran June 7, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past a banner with a picture of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on a street in Tehran, Iran June 7, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Sunday, Iranian media and a diplomat said, as part of the mediation process to end the war between Iran and the United States.

Iran's ISNA news agency reported an adviser to Qatar's foreign minister had been dispatched to Iran.

Another Iranian news agency Tasnim said the purpose of the visit was to "go over the latest developments regarding the diplomatic process.”

A diplomat with knowledge of the situation told AFP on Sunday that "Qatari negotiators flew to Tehran this morning.”

Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, the diplomat said the delegation travelled "to help facilitate the finalization of the agreement.”

Pakistan, which has led mediation to end the months-long Middle East war, and the US have indicated an agreement to end the fighting would be signed on Sunday.

But Tehran has cast doubt on that timing, and Iranian media has reported a final decision on the framework is yet to be made.


Iran Media: Tehran Has 'Not Yet' Taken Final Decision on US Peace Deal

Iranians drive past a billboard featuring Iran's national flag at Enqelab Square in Tehran, Iran, 14 June 2026. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Iranians drive past a billboard featuring Iran's national flag at Enqelab Square in Tehran, Iran, 14 June 2026. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
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Iran Media: Tehran Has 'Not Yet' Taken Final Decision on US Peace Deal

Iranians drive past a billboard featuring Iran's national flag at Enqelab Square in Tehran, Iran, 14 June 2026. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Iranians drive past a billboard featuring Iran's national flag at Enqelab Square in Tehran, Iran, 14 June 2026. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Iran's Fars news agency said on Sunday that Tehran has not made a final decision on signing the agreement under discussion with the United States to end the Middle East war.

"Iran has not yet taken or announced its final decision concerning the memorandum of understanding proposed during negotiations," reported Fars, which is close to Iranian conservative circles, citing "a well-informed source close to the Iranian negotiating team.”

The prospective agreement has faced opposition from hardline Iranian figures, who argue that it does not serve Iran's interests and would deprive Tehran of leverage over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump and mediator Pakistan said on Saturday an initial deal to end the war in the Middle East would be signed on Sunday.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two sides had agreed on a framework for a peace deal and that Islamabad was preparing for an electronic signing on Sunday, to be followed by technical-level talks next week.

Trump also said in a social media post that the deal with Iran was scheduled to be signed on Sunday and that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies which Iran has blocked, would be immediately "open to all" after it was signed.