Iran's armed forces spokesman warned Washington and Tel Aviv of "further and more severe" strikes, escalating a cycle of retaliation that has kept the region on edge. Speaking through the Iranian Students' News Agency on Thursday, the spokesman claimed U.S. and Israeli attacks had failed to dent Iran's military posture and dismissed targeted sites as insignificant. "You know nothing about our very extensive and strategic capabilities," he declared, insisting key production facilities—missile systems, long-range drones, air defences and electronic warfare—remained intact. He vowed operations would persist until adversaries "capitulate," deepening fears of a wider confrontation.
The spokesman's boast that Iran's capabilities remain "extensive and strategic" is less a deterrent than an admission that Tehran sees no off-ramp. His insistence that U.S. and Israeli strikes missed the mark means the cycle of tit-for-tat will likely intensify, with ordinary Iranians bearing the cost of their leaders' posturing. Unless Washington or Tel Aviv blinks first, the next round of attacks will land harder and closer to home.
