Top military commanders warn that a new war would set the region ablaze, vowing to strike American interests “immediately, forcefully” and without regard to Washington’s electoral timetable.

TEHRAN — Iran’s top military commander warned on Monday that any new war against the Islamic Republic would set the region ablaze, declaring that American interests would be targeted “immediately, forcefully, and without limitation,” whether before or after the U.S. congressional elections.

Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces and Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command Major General Ali Abdollahi issued the warning in a message to the Iranian people, saying that previous wars waged by the United States and Israel against Iran failed and that new attempts are being contemplated under the pretext of Iran’s nuclear program.

“If a new war against Iran begins, its flames will engulf everyone,” Abdollahi said.

In the most pointed passage of his statement, Abdollahi addressed U.S. President Donald Trump directly, signaling that Iran would not wait for the outcome of the American midterm elections.

“The narcissistic American president should know: first, the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the yellow dog is the brother of the jackal, and has not been and is not waiting for the results of the U.S. congressional elections,” Abdollahi said, quoting a Persian proverb used to say that two seemingly different people or options are ultimately equally bad or cut from the same cloth,  referring to Trump and his opponents.  

“Second, whether before or after the elections, and with any result, if he himself or at the instigation of the child-killing Zionist regime takes action against Islamic Iran, the Iranian Armed Forces will immediately, with intensity and power, and in a painful manner, target American interests without limitation, just as you saw in the Ramadan war.”

The warning comes as Trump has publicly signaled that he may intensify bombing of Iran after the U.S. midterm elections, telling Time magazine in an interview published last week that such an escalation was “possible” and repeating his threat to “annihilate” Iran.

Asked about his claim at the UN General Assembly that he could annihilate Iran, Trump said: “Yes. I will do that. It’s possible”.

Abdollahi directed a separate warning at countries hosting American military forces in the region, saying the primary source of regional insecurity and economic problems is the presence of the “American terrorist army”.

“Be aware that if a new war against Iran begins, its flames will engulf everyone,” he cautioned.

The United States maintains approximately 40,000 to 50,000 troops at at least 19 locations across more than 12 countries in West Asia, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, and major facilities in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Turning to Israel, Abdollahi described the “Zionist criminal gang” as having built its “80-year illegitimate and disastrous history on plunder, murder, and aggression”.

He said Israel initiated the 12-day war and the 40-day Ramadan war against Iran “with the green light from the great Satan” but was forced to seek a ceasefire after sustaining “powerful, effective, and heavy strikes” from Iranian forces.

“We are certain that the vicious Zionist regime has neither now nor at any other time had, or will have, the ability to confront a powerful Iran,” he said.

“If for any reason it again falls into miscalculation and initiates another war, the thunderbolts of divine wrath of the Iranian people and warriors will scatter their hopes and dreams to the wind.”

Abdollahi also issued a direct warning to international organizations, particularly the International Atomic Energy Agency, over statements regarding Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“We warn international organizations, especially the Atomic Energy Agency, to refrain from continuing to play the role of a wolf in sheep’s clothing and to avoid continuing baseless comments about Iran’s nuclear centers,” he said.

He dismissed Israeli claims that Iran’s nuclear program has entered a military phase as “a delusion” and an attempt to intimidate and portray Iran as a threat.

He noted that such allegations are particularly unacceptable coming from “a criminal who possesses several hundred nuclear warheads”.

Abdollahi emphasized that the Islamic Republic is “stronger than ever” and fully prepared to confront any threat at any level. “And victory is only from Allah, the Almighty, the Wise,” he said, quoting a Qur’anic verse.

The most direct reinforcement of Abdollahi’s warning came from Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Major General Mohsen Rezaei, who warned against miscalculation by the enemy.

"We warn the terrorist American government, its allies, and its followers that every miscalculation by the enemy against Iran has resulted in a heavy defeat for it; the next mistake will bring new fronts and greater surprises," he warned.

Manouchehr Mottaki, head of the Executive Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, said is fully prepared for war or any other event.

“Our enemies must be worried about the type of our military response — which they showed by sending messages requesting negotiations during the Iranian delegation’s trip to the UN General Assembly,” said Mottaki, who is leading a parliamentary delegation to Arusha, Tanzania, for the 153rd IPU Assembly.

Commander-in-Chief of the Army Major General Amir Hatami reinforced the same message during a visit to army units in Fars province, where he assessed combat morale, equipment readiness, and defensive capability.

He stressed that the war is not over: “After failing on the military battlefield, the enemy has turned to other methods and is trying, through sanctions and economic pressure, to pressure the people, and alongside that, is pursuing many actions to create insecurity and chaos.”

“The armed forces, by maintaining readiness and vigilance, will give a crushing response to his threats if the enemy makes another mistake,” he said.

He described war as “an arena of endurance — whichever side can endure and resist more will ultimately win, and we, as the defending side, possess high endurance capacity in the country and the armed forces.”

Hatami said: “We must use the opportunities created to consolidate victory and remove the shadow of war from the country, and on this path, continue resistance and steadfastness.”