Iran Threatens Stronger Response to Future Israeli Strikes

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf

On August 26, 2025, Iran warned that any future Israeli attack would be met with a far stronger response, signaling a potential expansion of the conflict if hostilities resume.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said the 12-day war in June revealed vulnerabilities that have since been addressed, adding that Iran’s armed forces are now fully prepared to deliver a more decisive blow.

Speaking to the Iranian newspaper Entekhab, Ghalibaf highlighted a recent naval missile exercise as a warning that Tehran would abandon restraint in a renewed conflict. He indicated that retaliation could extend beyond the military, including political and economic targets.

The June conflict began when Israel launched surprise airstrikes under Operation Rising Lion, targeting military and nuclear facilities across Iran, including the Natanz uranium enrichment site. The strikes killed several senior officials, including IRGC commander Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, and Aerospace Force chief Amir Ali Hajizadeh.

In response, Iran conducted Operation True Promise 3, firing dozens of missiles at Israeli military sites and airbases. Iranian authorities reported more than 1,060 fatalities, including roughly 700 civilians, with over 4,000 injured. Israeli health officials confirmed 28 deaths and more than 3,000 injuries, with over 3,200 requiring hospitalization, though some sources suggest the actual toll may be higher.

Ghalibaf’s comments mark a clear escalation in rhetoric, raising concerns among regional and international observers about the risk of further confrontation. Analysts note that Iran’s emphasis on expanding retaliation into political and economic spheres could increase tensions not only in the Middle East but globally, affecting trade, energy markets, and diplomatic relations.

As both sides assess their capabilities and losses from the June clashes, the warning from Tehran underscores the fragile security situation in the region. Officials in Israel have not commented publicly on Ghalibaf’s statements, but the warning is likely to influence military planning and diplomatic messaging in the coming weeks.