Iran has warned that any future military action by the United States will trigger an unpredictable retaliation that lacks geographical limitations. The stark warning came from Maj. Gen. Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces and commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters. Speaking through state broadcaster IRIB, Abdollahi stated that the material and non-material assets of adversaries are within the reach of Iranian military forces.
The commander asserted that Iran has emerged as a fourth centre of global power. He attributed this status to the country’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy chokepoint, and its capacity to dictate the rules governing access to the waterway.
Against this backdrop, Abdollahi laid out five distinct conditions that Tehran views as essential for establishing lasting regional security. The initial condition demands an immediate halt to hostilities on all fronts, placing specific emphasis on Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. He also rejected any diplomatic negotiations conducted under the shadow of military threats.
The second condition requires the complete lifting of economic sanctions against Iran alongside the release of frozen Iranian assets. Abdollahi’s third point demands financial compensation for damages inflicted by ongoing wars. He stressed that Tehran views itself as a creditor rather than a debtor in this regard.
The fourth condition insists upon the official recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Also, it calls for the dismantling of the current US-led security framework in favour of a regional alternative known as the Hormuz mechanism.
The final condition demands concrete guarantees against renewed military attacks. It also proposes the creation of security arrangements managed strictly by nations within the region.
These pronouncements arrive during a period of sustained friction between Tehran and Washington. The hostility stems from the military campaign launched by Washington and Israel against Iran on 28 February. Tehran has continually pressed for an end to the US naval blockade and the removal of economic sanctions as prerequisites for any diplomatic breakthrough.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament and head of Tehran’s negotiating team, addressed the diplomatic stalemate. On Tuesday, Qalibaf stated that Iran had delivered a firm and rational response to Washington. He added that the US must now decide whether it wants to prevent another war.
