TEHRAN -- The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Sunday issued a stern warning to the U.S. and Israel, stating that any new act of aggression or miscalculation would be met with a “deadly” response, as the country marked the beginning of Sacred Defense Week.
“In the event of any new miscalculation or aggression by the enemy, the Islamic Republic of Iran will take the initiative on the battlefield with a commanding position and deliver another deadly response,” the IRGC said in a statement.
The comments come as Iran commemorates the 45th anniversary of the Iraq-imposed war, an eight-year conflict that Iran regards as a defining moment of resistance and national unity.
The IRGC said that the recent Israeli-U.S. aggression against Iran had further strengthened internal cohesion and exposed the failure of both regimes to achieve their objectives.
“The enemies’ defeat in the two imposed wars…, and their failure in security, political, economic, psychological, and media battles aimed at creating chaos and destabilizing the country, showed that the Iranian nation, through vigilance, insight, and sacred unity, stood like a steel fortress against the enemies’ hybrid warfare and foiled their plots,” the statement added.
The force emphasized its ongoing efforts to build advanced defensive and offensive military capabilities.
“The Islamic Republic’s experience of sacred defense both during the Iraq-imposed war and the recent Israel-U.S. aggression shows that ‘effective deterrence’ stems from constant readiness, strategic and tactical innovation, operational planning in battles, as well as the continuous advancement of defensive and military technologies and systems,” it said.
In a related statement, Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, highlighted the vital role of Sacred Defense culture in safeguarding the Islamic Republic and strengthening the front of resistance against global arrogance.
In a message, Abdollahi said, “Sacred Defense Week recalls the days when the great Iranian nation, with faith in God, following the leadership of Imam Khomeini, and with a spirit full of resistance, steadfastness, sacrifice, and devotion, stood against the comprehensive invasion of enemies and created an enduring epic of dignity, independence, and honor in the history of this land.”
He stressed that the discourse of resistance is rooted in religious, national, and revolutionary concepts, based on principles such as standing against arrogance, relying on internal capabilities, distrusting oppressive powers, and trusting divine strength. 
This discourse, he continued, shaped by historical events and collective experience, was consolidated through the blood of martyrs and the sacrifices of veterans.
Abdollahi identified the 12-day war as a turning point that strengthened national cohesion and resistance spirit, showing the Iranian people’s ability to overcome severe threats through faith, leadership, and unity.
“Today, the lasting peace and security of society owe themselves to the same discourse of resistance and steadfastness formed during the Sacred Defense. 
“Sacred Defense is not merely a military event but an eternal doctrine and an inexhaustible asset for the Iranian nation, guiding officials in defense, political, cultural, and economic fields. 
“The continuation of this doctrine guarantees the survival of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran and strengthens the sacred front of resistance against arrogance.”
On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked military attack on Iran, triggering a 12-day war that resulted in the martyrdom of at least 1,064 Iranian people, including nuclear scientists, civilians, and senior military commanders. 
The U.S. also entered the war, bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of international law.
Iran responded forcefully. Its Armed Forces targeted strategic Israeli sites and struck the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, home to the largest U.S. military installation in West Asia.
By June 24, Iran had carried out successful retaliatory operations, effectively halting the ongoing offensive by both Israel and the United States.