Key Points and Summary – Following the recent “12-Day War” that exposed its military vulnerabilities, Iran is now claiming it has “addressed” its weaknesses and is prepared to respond more aggressively to future attacks.
-Top officials are threatening to strike new geographic areas, including U.S. cities, if provoked.
-However, it remains unclear how Iran has fixed its most glaring weakness: an aging and battered air defense network that was devastated by Israeli strikes.
-Instead, Tehran appears to be focusing on developing new missiles, suggesting its tough talk may be a bluff to deter further attacks.
Iran Claims It Has “Addressed” Weaknesses – But How?
The speaker of the Iranian parliament admitted this week that the 12-Day War with Israel exposed Iran’s “weaknesses,” and promised a more aggressive response to future strikes.
The comments follow a series of similar claims by Iranian officials in recent weeks, promising to strike the United States and Israel with newly-developed missiles if the new military strikes are confirmed.
“In the next possible war, our restraint will end,” Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Tuesday, August 26. “New geographic areas and targets will be added to our response. And if the enemy overreaches again, the war could expand into economic and political arenas as well.”
Speaking to parliament, Ghalibaf also said that the Iranian military had learned from the recent war, had addressed its weaknesses, and was now prepared to act more aggressively to defend itself. Ghalibaf pointed to recent “Sustainable Authority” naval missile drills, echoing comments made by parliamentarian Amir Hayat-Moqaddam about how Iranian forces could strike U.S. cities like Washington and New York by moving warships to within 2,000 miles of the American coastline.
“Even now, all European countries are in our range. With our existing missiles we can strike France, Germany, the U.K., and all of Western and Eastern Europe,” Hayat-Moqaddam said earlier this month.
The comments also come amid rising speculation that Israel could be preparing new strikes against Iran that could begin before the end of the year.
Days ago, former Israeli intelligence officer Jacques Neriah also warned that another round of Israeli strikes is “imminent,” and that Tehran could be forced to escalate.
“The Iranians will not be able to live with this humiliation for long,” Neriah said.
In his recent remarks, Ghalibaf also stressed that efforts were underway to strengthen the Iranian military in preparation for future strikes.
“As someone aware of the efforts of the armed forces, I informed the Iranian people that fortifying the country’s defense is being pursued swiftly and seriously,” he said. “With the valuable experience gained from the 12-day war, many weaknesses have been identified and addressed.”
Ghalibaf added that Iranian forces are “prepared to respond more powerfully than before to any possible attack.”
What Has Iran Done?
However, it remains unclear what Iran has done to address its most obvious weakness: an aging, hodge podge of air defense systems that failed to protect even its most valuable military and nuclear assets during the recent 12-Day War.
Instead, the Iranian military appears to be focused on the development of new missiles with “far greater capabilities” than those used during the 12-Day War.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York who writes frequently for National Security Journal. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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