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Rezaei says future conflict will inflict heavy casualties, as Iran has developed new military capabilities
Web Desk
June 27, 2026
4 min read
People drive on a street in Tehran, Iran, June 18, 2026. Photo: Reuters
Mohsen Rezaei, a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, warned on Saturday that any new military confrontation initiated by the United States or Israel would result in heavy casualties, saying Tehran had entered talks in Switzerland "seriously and swiftly" while Washington had failed to uphold its commitments. Speaking to US-based NewsNation television, the former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said Iran was prepared to respond forcefully if confronted again. "If the United States or Israel makes even the slightest threat against Iran, the next war will not resemble the previous one," he said. "[US] President Donald Trump should know that this time they would suffer extensive human losses." According to Press TV, Rezaei questioned Washington's commitment to ongoing diplomatic efforts, saying the Iranian negotiating team had entered recent talks in Switzerland "seriously and swiftly," while the US had failed to uphold its commitments. Rezaei said that Iran had developed new military capabilities that would fundamentally alter the nature of any future conflict. He said the US continued threatening Iran during negotiations despite Israeli violations of the first clause of the recently signed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), adding that Tehran had observed no meaningful change in the conduct of the Trump administration. Read: The 14-point draft of the US-Iran deal "We believe they are trying to buy time," Rezai said, adding that Washington was focused on domestic economic challenges and political priorities rather than reaching a lasting agreement with Iran. Outlining Tehran's conditions for a sustainable agreement, Rezaei said Washington must recognise Iran's legitimate rights under international law, including its peaceful nuclear programme under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He also called for the removal of US sanctions, the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad, and recognition of Iran's role in managing the Strait of Hormuz. "The Strait of Hormuz has nothing to do with the US," he said, adding that its management was a matter for Iran and Oman. He further said Iran had safeguarded the strategic waterway for decades, and countries benefiting from maritime traffic should contribute towards its security and environmental protection. Reiterating Tehran's longstanding position on its nuclear programme, Rezaei said Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons and had already provided all legal guarantees required under international agreements. "The claim that Iran seeks nuclear weapons has always been a big lie," he said, referring to previous US intelligence assessments that concluded Iran was not pursuing a nuclear bomb. The former IRGC commander also said successive US administrations had failed to understand Iran's position, arguing that Washington had consistently been influenced by Israeli intelligence agencies and political pressure. Addressing American viewers directly, Rezaei distinguished between the US government and its citizens. "We do not want the American people to suffer," he said. "But we will firmly defend ourselves against any aggression by the US government or its military." Iran-UAE discuss regional developments Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Emirati counterpart, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reviewed the latest regional developments during a telephone conversation, according to Iran's state news agency IRNA. The two sides exchanged views on regional developments following the understanding reached between Iran and the United States. Al Nahyan stressed the importance of continuing dialogue and utilising diplomatic solutions, expressing hope that the ongoing diplomatic process would produce constructive outcomes that strengthen peace, security and stability across the region. Read more: US-Iran trade strikes for the first time since signing Islamabad MoU The diplomatic engagement came as Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned US strikes on several locations along the country's southern coastline, accusing Washington of violating the UN Charter and the Memorandum of Understanding on ending the war, according to Al Jazeera. The ministry said the attacks targeted coastal surveillance facilities and reaffirmed Iran's right to self-defence, stating that its armed forces carried out retaliatory strikes against US-related targets, as per Al Jazeera. Tehran also called on Gulf states to prevent their territory from being used for hostile actions and urged the United Nations and international bodies to address what it described as breaches of international law. Israel strikes Lebanon again Meanwhile, Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Israeli forces overnight bombed the vicinity of the town of Markaba, about 1.5 kilometres from the Israel-Lebanon border. The reported strike came after Israel and Lebanon signed a "framework agreement" in Washington that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as a "first step" in negotiations. Separately, Lebanese Member of Parliament Ashraf Rifi welcomed the framework agreement, saying Lebanon was finally "acting like a state". "The notion that a state within a state protects Lebanon has fallen, and with it the illusion that illegal weapons create security or restore rights," he said, in remarks carried by Lebanon's state-run National News Agency. "This is a historic moment for Lebanon," he continued. "It is no longer acceptable for Lebanese decision-making to remain hostage to the Iranian project, or for Hezbollah to continue its dominance over the state and its institutions." In another development, Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency cited the head of ports in eastern Hormozgan as saying that no damage had been caused to Sirik port following renewed US attacks launched after an incident in which a cargo vessel was struck by an Iranian drone. According to Mehr, the port continued operating normally and no damage was sustained to its equipment despite explosions reported earlier on the premises.
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