Khamenei's adviser warns US, Israel against new war, says Washington failed to uphold commitments

TEHRAN: Mohsen Rezaei, a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, warned on Saturday that any new military confrontation initiated by the United States or Israel would result in heavy casualties, saying Tehran had entered talks in Switzerland "seriously and swiftly" while Washington had failed to uphold its commitments.

Speaking to US-based NewsNation television, the former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said Iran was prepared to respond forcefully if confronted again.

"If the United States or Israel makes even the slightest threat against Iran, the next war will not resemble the previous one," he said. "[US] President Donald Trump should know that this time they would suffer extensive human losses."

According to Press TV, Rezaei questioned Washington's commitment to ongoing diplomatic efforts, saying the Iranian negotiating team had entered recent talks in Switzerland "seriously and swiftly," while the US had failed to uphold its commitments.

Rezaei said that Iran had developed new military capabilities that would fundamentally alter the nature of any future conflict.

He said the US continued threatening Iran during negotiations despite Israeli violations of the first clause of the recently signed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), adding that Tehran had observed no meaningful change in the conduct of the Trump administration.

"We believe they are trying to buy time," Rezai said, adding that Washington was focused on domestic economic challenges and political priorities rather than reaching a lasting agreement with Iran.

Outlining Tehran's conditions for a sustainable agreement, Rezaei said Washington must recognise Iran's legitimate rights under international law, including its peaceful nuclear programme under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He also called for the removal of US sanctions, the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad, and recognition of Iran's role in managing the Strait of Hormuz.

"The Strait of Hormuz has nothing to do with the US," he said, adding that its management was a matter for Iran and Oman. He further said Iran had safeguarded the strategic waterway for decades, and countries benefiting from maritime traffic should contribute towards its security and environmental protection.

Reiterating Tehran's longstanding position on its nuclear programme, Rezaei said Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons and had already provided all legal guarantees required under international agreements.

"The claim that Iran seeks nuclear weapons has always been a big lie," he said, referring to previous US intelligence assessments that concluded Iran was not pursuing a nuclear bomb.

The former IRGC commander also said successive US administrations had failed to understand Iran's position, arguing that Washington had consistently been influenced by Israeli intelligence agencies and political pressure.

Addressing American viewers directly, Rezaei distinguished between the US government and its citizens.

"We do not want the American people to suffer," he said. "But we will firmly defend ourselves against any aggression by the US government or its military."

Iran condemns US strikes on its southern coast, accuses Washington of violating peace deal

Iran on Saturday condemned US strikes on several sites along its southern coastline, accusing Washington of violating the UN Charter and the recently signed pact on ending the war.

In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the attacks targeted coastal surveillance facilities and reaffirmed Iran’s right to self-defense, stating that its armed forces had conducted retaliatory strikes on US-linked targets.

The ministry also urged Gulf states "to prevent any aggressor parties from using their territory and facilities to carry out acts of aggression" against Tehran.

It also called on the UN and international bodies "not to remain indifferent to the blatant violation" of international law.