Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi has said that Iran is fully prepared to retaliate against any military provocations that violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Monday.
During an inspection of an armed forces unit on Sunday night, Mousavi warned that an escalation of regional tensions would have serious consequences for the U.S. and its allies, emphasizing that "the Iranian armed forces only think of victory, without any fear of the enemy's rumbling and apparent arrogance."
"Those who have been blowing the trumpet for several months and promoting the proposition of a 'weak Iran' are now forced to either retract their words or receive a slap from Iranian power," he added.
Mousavi also said that countries like the U.S. should know that Iran's action will be swift, decisive, and "free from U.S. calculations."
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration deployed an aircraft carrier strike group and multiple warships to the Middle East in late January.
On Monday, Trump said that the U.S. has sent large warships to the relevant region while maintaining communication with Tehran and observing how the situation develops.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday warned that the U.S. military is prepared to take action if Iran refuses to negotiate with the U.S. over its nuclear program, but clarified that the Trump administration does not wish to escalate to military confrontation. Hegseth underscored that the U.S. will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons capability and mentioned that there are currently no plans to push for "regime change" in Iran.
U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to arrive in Israel on Tuesday for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior military officials, a senior Israeli official said on Monday. The talks will focus on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire and the tensions with Iran, the official said.
Witkoff 's visit comes amid rising regional tensions over Washington's increased military presence in the Middle East, its threats to attack Iran, and Tehran's warnings of retaliation against U.S. and Israeli targets. It also followed the White House's effort to seek to advance a plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the rehabilitation of the devastated enclave.
Iran ready to retaliate against any provocations: military chief
