TEHRAN, Jan 31 (Alliance News): Iranian Army Chief Amir Hatami on Saturday warned the United States and Israel against launching any military attack on Iran, saying the country’s armed forces were on high alert amid heavy US military deployments in the Gulf and rising regional tensions.
Speaking to state-run IRNA news agency, Hatami said Iran was fully prepared to respond to any aggression, cautioning that even a small miscalculation by its adversaries would have serious consequences for regional security.
“If the enemy makes a mistake, without a doubt it will endanger its own security, the security of the region, and the security of the Zionist regime,” he said.
Hatami stressed that Iran’s armed forces were at “full defensive and military readiness,” adding that Tehran was closely monitoring developments following Washington’s decision to deploy a naval strike group to the Middle East led by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. The deployment has fueled fears of a possible direct confrontation between the two sides.
The Iranian army chief also rejected suggestions that Iran’s nuclear capabilities could be destroyed through military action.
Responding to recent remarks by former US President Donald Trump, who said he expected Tehran to seek a deal to avoid American strikes, Hatami insisted that Iran’s nuclear expertise was irreversible.
“Nuclear technology cannot be eliminated, even if scientists and sons of this nation are martyred,” he said.
Tensions have escalated after the United States carried out strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities in June, briefly joining Israel in a 12-day conflict with Iran. Israeli attacks during that period also targeted military installations across the country, killing senior officers and prominent nuclear scientists, according to Iranian officials.
Despite the heightened rhetoric, Iran has signaled limited openness to diplomacy. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier that Tehran was ready to engage in talks on its nuclear programme, but made it clear that Iran’s missile capabilities and defense systems were non-negotiable. “Our missiles and defense will never be negotiated,” he said.
On Friday, US Central Command (Centcom) announced that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was expected to conduct a two-day live-fire naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil and gas shipments. Centcom warned the IRGC against “any unsafe and unprofessional behaviour” near US forces operating in the region.
The IRGC was designated a terrorist organisation by the United States in 2019, a move followed this week by the European Union. The EU’s decision triggered sharp criticism from Tehran, which vowed to respond with reciprocal measures.
The military standoff comes against the backdrop of recent unrest inside Iran. Nationwide protests erupted on December 28 over rising living costs before evolving into a broader anti-government movement that peaked on January 8 and 9.
Iranian authorities said the demonstrations initially began peacefully but later turned violent, blaming the United States and Israel for orchestrating what they described as a “terrorist operation.”
According to official figures, at least 3,117 people were killed during the unrest. The protests have since subsided, but senior Iranian leaders have acknowledged the need to address public grievances.
On Saturday, President Masoud Pezeshkian urged his administration to work more closely with the public. “We must work with the people and for the people and serve the people as much as possible,” he said in a speech broadcast on state television.
He added that justice and fairness were essential to maintaining national unity and resilience.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei visited the shrine of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, in southern Tehran as part of events marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
State media showed Khamenei offering prayers at the shrine during the 10-day commemorations.
