Iran's Top General Issues Threat

Newsweek

16 hours ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Iran's top military commander has issued a threat to Israel, warning that if conflict reignites, Tehran is prepared to launch a "crippling" assault so overwhelming that "even the United States may not be able to save [Prime Minister] Netanyahu."
According to state media, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi vowed that a meticulously prepared plan of retaliation would be activated if what he called "another mistake" is made by the Israeli government.
The threat follows a 12-day war that left nearly 1,000 Iranians and dozens of Israelis dead, and comes amid a tense ceasefire negotiated after both U.S. military and Israeli strikes against Iran's nuclear program.
Newsweek has reached out the State Department as well as The foreign ministries of Iran and Israel.
Why It Matters
The remarks from Iran's Armed Forces Chief signal that the region remains on a knife's edge.
The latest confrontation between Iran and Israel, which drew the U.S. into direct combat, has unsettled international markets, spurred diplomatic urgency, and drawn warnings from global powers fearing a broader war. Iran's open threat of a "crippling" military campaign heightens concerns that the fragile ceasefire may be only a pause in a larger, unresolved conflict.
Commander of the Iranian army Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi speaks during an anti-U.S. annual rally in front of the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 4, 2019. The rally revived the decades-old cries of...
Commander of the Iranian army Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi speaks during an anti-U.S. annual rally in front of the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 4, 2019. The rally revived the decades-old cries of "Death to America," Iran on Monday marked the 40th anniversary of the 1979 student takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. More
Vahid Salemi/AP Photo
What to Know
"They thought they could destroy our system in 48 hours and tear Iran apart," Mousavi said at a memorial for a Revolutionary Guard commander killed in Israeli strikes. "But the Iranian nation overcame them."
Mousavi described the fighting as part of a 15-year campaign by Israel and the U.S. aimed at destabilizing and dividing Iran. However, he said that Iran's leadership, armed forces, and united people successfully derailed that plan. He added that Iran was prepared to unleash a devastating final assault on Israel but held back due to the ceasefire.
12 Day War
The conflict began when Israel launched its strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites on June 13. The United States joined Israel's military campaign on June 22, striking nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow. President Donald Trump dubbed the campaign "Operation Midnight Hammer" and claimed it had dismantled Iran's nuclear program.
Trump, Netanyahu Meeting
Meanwhile, Trump said his upcoming White House meeting with Netanyahu would cover several issues, including what he described as "probably a permanent deal with Iran." He added, "We're working on a lot of things with Israel."
Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu praised the cooperation with the United States for bringing a "huge victory over our shared enemy."
President Donald Trump, left, speaks with reporters as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens after arriving on Marine One, in background, and before boarding Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, N.J., Sunday, July...
President Donald Trump, left, speaks with reporters as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens after arriving on Marine One, in background, and before boarding Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, N.J., Sunday, July 6, 2025, en route to Washington. More
Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo
What People Are Saying
Iran's Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi: "We had prepared the crippling plan, but due to the ceasefire, it did not get the opportunity to be implemented. However, if another mistake is made, this plan will be executed. Even the United States may not be able to save Netanyahu."
President Donald Trump: "We're working on a lot of things with Israel, and one of the things is probably a permanent deal with Iran."
What Happens Next
Though a ceasefire with Israel is in place, Iran has emphasized it will respond forcefully if provoked again, warning that its final phase of retaliation remains on standby. As regional actors watch for the next move, Trump is set to meet Netanyahu at the White House. The high-stakes meeting comes at a critical moment, with both sides weighing their next steps in a conflict that could quickly reignite.