IRGC commander warns of shift to offensive posture

Brigadier General Yadollah Javani, the Political Deputy of the IRGC, made the remarks during a televised interview on Monday evening.

He emphasized that the adversary was the initiator of the conflict, noting that Iran’s responses have thus far been purely defensive.

However, he warned that this defensive stance is poised to evolve, marking a significant and transformative shift in the military’s strategic doctrine.

"The enemy should know that it cannot catch us off guard," General Javani stated. "Instead, it is the enemy that must anticipate strategic surprises."

He pointed directly to the recent appointment decrees of top IRGC commanders, specifically highlighting the mandate given to the new Commander-in-Chief, Major General Ahmad Vahidi.

General Javani noted that the new command decrees are not merely administrative changes but a clear signal to adversaries that Iran’s military doctrine is evolving to meet and exceed the challenges of modern warfare.

According to General Javani, General Vahidi’s decree emphasizes "maximum deterrence" and introduces a new operational approach: from now on, any defensive action taken by the armed forces will inherently take on an offensive shape to proactively neutralize threats.

IRGC's Political Deputy General Javani warned that in case of any new mistakes by the enemies, Iran's response will be more powerful and more unbelievable than ever before.

Reaffirming that the Islamic Republic has never been the aggressor under the leadership of the late Imam Khomeini, the martyred Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, or the current leadership, the general criticized the enemy's severe "miscalculations."

"Whatever is necessary to defend this land, ensure security, and neutralize enemy threats will be executed at the appropriate time," General Javani concluded, noting that the armed forces have already demonstrated this resolve in recent events and will continue to do so.

Major General Ahmad Vahidi’s recent appointment as the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC marks a pivotal consolidation of Iran’s military and strategic leadership.

A veteran of the sacred defense against the Iraqi invasion in the 1980s and a highly trusted figure within the Islamic Republic’s security establishment, General Vahidi brings decades of experience to the role.

He previously served as the Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, as well as the Minister of Interior, giving him a unique understanding of both asymmetric warfare and domestic security apparatuses.

His elevation to the top IRGC post signals a deliberate shift toward a more integrated, proactive, and resilient defense doctrine.