A senior Iranian official has reiterated the Islamic Republic’s position that it will not begin military conflict but remains prepared to respond with force to any perceived threat, against the backdrop of escalating instability and ongoing confrontation with Israeli and Western interests throughout the Middle East.
Ali Saeedi Shahroodi, who heads the ideological office within the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime, stated this week that Iran’s doctrine is purely defensive. While Shahroodi emphasized that Iran “has never started wars, and will not start this time,” he warned that the nation would act decisively should its security be threatened. This messaging comes amid high regional tensions, as Israel pursues operations against Iran’s proxy terror networks following the October 7, 2023 massacre and in the face of provocations across several fronts.
Tensions and Iran’s Regional Military Activity
Although Iranian authorities publicly assert a defensive orientation, Iran has for years been the driving force behind a vast network of armed proxies — including Hamas terrorists in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen — who have been central to regional destabilization and direct attacks on Israel and global shipping. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) remains deeply engaged in the Syrian and Iraqi theaters, providing advanced weapons, training, and strategic guidance to forces engaged in hostilities against Israeli and Western targets.
The deadliest terror assault since the Holocaust—the October 7 massacre by Hamas—was coordinated and perpetrated by terrorists trained, equipped, and funded by Iran. The attack, characterized by mass executions, sexual violence, and abductions of Israeli civilians, represented the culmination of a decades-long campaign to undermine Israeli security and erode regional stability. In response, Israel’s Operation Iron Swords is ongoing in Gaza and across several other fronts, conducted as acts of self-defense recognized and supported by the United States and other democratic nations.
Diplomacy and Sanctions Negotiations
Addressing ongoing negotiations with Washington, Shahroodi insisted that the United States must not seek pretexts to impede diplomacy, and that all sanctions on Iran must be fully and permanently lifted, not merely suspended. This demand reflects a persistent line from Iran’s leadership, who claim that U.S.-led economic pressure unjustly targets Iran. These sanctions, imposed in response to Iran’s nuclear program and support for terrorism, have been the subject of intense diplomatic friction between Tehran and Western capitals.
While the Iranian regime frequently maintains that it seeks only civilian nuclear technology, Israeli and American intelligence agencies have repeatedly disclosed evidence of illicit nuclear activity and the stockpiling of enriched uranium at levels inconsistent with peaceful use. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir have both declared that Israel is prepared to act alone, if necessary, to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Proxy War Doctrine and Hostilities on Multiple Fronts
Iran’s strategy to project power and apply pressure against Israel relies on state-sponsored terror and proxy warfare. Hezbollah, whose arsenal now exceeds 150,000 missiles according to Israeli assessments, threatens Israeli civilian centers from southern Lebanon. In Yemen, the Houthis — also sustained by Iranian weaponry — have attacked international shipping routes, triggering U.S.-led naval operations to protect freedom of commerce. Multiple attempts by the IRGC and its affiliates to entrench themselves close to Israel’s northern borders have been thwarted by preemptive Israeli action.
The hostage crisis continues to cast a shadow over the conflict. More than 240 Israeli and foreign civilians remain captives of Hamas, their abductions classified as war crimes under international law. Israel and its allies insist on the unconditional release of these innocent hostages, in sharp moral and legal contrast to the status of terrorists released by Israel in asymmetrical exchanges.
Regime Messaging and Global Implications
Iran’s communication strategy is directed both at galvanizing domestic support and mitigating international backlash. While publicly portraying itself as a victim of unjust Western aggression, the regime remains committed to expanding its influence through military and subversive means. Israeli and Western sources maintain that the root driver of ongoing regional conflict is not legitimate grievance but the clerical leadership’s ideological mission: the destruction of Israel and export of Islamist revolution.
Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Netanyahu, underscore that the defense of Israel’s citizens against existential threats is both a moral imperative and a sovereign right. The U.S.-Israel security partnership has been strengthened by President Donald Trump’s administration, with measures such as increased military assistance to Israel, a bolstered stance against the IRGC, and repeated diplomatic affirmations of Israel’s right to self-defense.
Looking Forward
The Middle East remains on edge as Israel, backed by the United States, maintains a strict policy of deterrence and rapid response to threats from Iranian-backed adversaries. The ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and missile program remain fraught with mutual distrust and continue to shape security policy for Israel and its partners.
Iran’s insistence that it will not start a war, while simultaneously supplying and directing armed proxies engaged in near-daily attacks on Israeli and allied targets, leaves little doubt among regional analysts about the true posture of the regime. The international community faces a decisive moment: whether to accept Iran’s narrative or to hold the regime accountable for its documented sponsorship of terrorism and aggression against sovereign states.
As Israel continues its campaign against Iranian-backed networks, the stakes remain high — not just for Israeli security, but for the long-term stability and moral direction of the wider region.
