IRGC Commander Hossein Salami declared that Iran is “ready for war”, framing the ongoing regional conflict as a divine battle between Islam and the West. His remarks, delivered during a high-level IRGC meeting, offer a chilling insight into Iran’s warped worldview—and a clear reminder of the threat posed by the regime in Tehran.
Salami painted the past year of escalating warfare as a moment of triumph for Iran, despite the devastating blows it has suffered since October 7, 2023. In a stunning distortion of reality, he claimed that Israel and its allies “used all their strength to subdue Iran—but only achieved the opposite.” He went so far as to assert that if the U.S. stopped supplying weapons to Israel, “Israel would fall like a leaf in the wind.”
Historical Delusion and Manufactured Victories
Referring to the IDF’s historic strike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, which eliminated senior IRGC commanders, Salami described the resulting Iranian missile barrage on Israel—the first direct attack by Iran on Israeli soil—as “historic.” He boasted that 185 Iranian missiles successfully struck Israeli territory, conveniently omitting that Israel and its allies intercepted the vast majority and neutralized the threat with minimal casualties.
He labeled the war a “great battle between Muslims and infidels,” claiming that Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias continue to wage an attritional war on Israel’s behalf. Salami absurdly declared that Israel has “surrendered” to Hamas and Hezbollah, despite both organizations suffering crippling losses at the hands of the IDF. He also dismissed the Houthi setbacks in Yemen, claiming U.S. airstrikes had no real impact.
Whitewashing Syria and Threatening Total War
In an attempt to cover up Iran’s failure in Syria, where the Assad regime collapsed under Israeli pressure, Salami insisted that Iran had never been responsible for the country’s security—only for “defending Shiite holy sites.” The reality, however, is that Iran poured tens of thousands of troops and billions of dollars into Syria, only to watch its influence unravel.
He warned that if war escalates further, Israel “will not withstand the volume of fire” directed at it, while claiming Iran’s proxy network has yet to unleash its full strength. He painted the “Resistance Axis” as a slumbering giant, ready to strike.
No to Negotiation, Yes to Jihad
On the subject of potential negotiations, Salami rejected outright the notion that Iran would surrender its deterrence capabilities—including its nuclear program, missile arsenal, and proxy terror network. He mocked what he sees as American and Israeli efforts to coerce Iran into disarmament under President Trump’s “maximum pressure” doctrine.
“We were born out of jihad,” Salami declared. “Our destiny is to fight and win great battles.”
He concluded with an ominous message: Iran is prepared for war—but will not start it. It will retaliate only if provoked. This typical regime doublespeak aims to frame Iran as the victim while it actively funds, trains, and commands the world’s largest terror network, responsible for bloodshed from Gaza to Argentina.
