Iran: From Defense to Offense

Tabnak News Agency, a mouthpiece of Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior military advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, claimed Iran is about to enter an “offensive phase” in the war. At the same time, Supreme National Security Council mouthpiece Nour News warned the United States of the perils of a ground operation against Iran.

• March 31: According to Tabnak News Agency, Iran has so far been able to repel direct threats from Israel and the United States by “equipping its defense systems, including missile and air defense systems, and has established security at its borders and critical centers” and is about to start an “offensive phase”:
  • “Moving toward offense means designing operations that not only respond to threats but also deter the enemy from taking military action. This approach includes identifying predetermined enemy targets, sensitive logistical points, and command centers and taking preemptive action against them. In this way, Iran can relieve pressure from its borders and take the initiative.”
  • “A successful offensive is impossible without accurate and up-to-date intelligence. Identifying enemy bases, equipment transfer routes, communication networks, and vulnerable points constitutes the backbone of any offensive operation. By utilizing domestic intelligence capabilities and regional networks, Iran can deliver targeted, low-cost, yet effective, strikes without leading to a broader crisis.”
  • “The move toward offense should not be purely military. Coordination with regional actors and the use of diplomatic tools, economic pressure, and media influence can multiply the impact of military offense. In other words, a smart offensive is a combination of combat capability and indirect tools to create sustainable deterrence.”
  • “Entering an offensive phase sends a clear message to the enemy: Iran will not just defend itself but also has the capability and readiness to deliver a targeted counterstrike.”
• March 31: Supreme National Security Council mouthpiece Nour News Agency wrote on the perils of a U.S. ground invasion of Iran:
  • “The scenario of a U.S. ground attack is not a sign of superiority but rather an indication of entering a stage of complexity and strategic deadlock. The combination of three main elements – namely Iran’s ground advantages, the strategic position of the Strait of Hormuz, and the operational capacity of the ‘axis of resistance’ – has created conditions in which any move into a ground phase becomes a costly and multilayered decision.”
  • “The regionalization of the war is not a future possibility but a reality that has been established through the expansion of the scope of conflict. Therefore, a ground war is not the end of the crisis but the beginning of a stage in which costs, actors, and consequences increase exponentially and control of the battlefield becomes significantly more difficult.”

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