Iran Signals Readiness for ‘Long War’, Warns of New Strategic Weapons as Regional Conflict Intensifies

Tehran, March 2026 — Iran’s powerful military organisation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has declared that the country is fully prepared for a prolonged conflict and is developing a new category of strategic weapons that have not yet been deployed on the battlefield. The statement comes amid rapidly escalating tensions in West Asia following recent military confrontations involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

According to Iran’s state broadcaster Press TV, IRGC spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naeini confirmed that Tehran is preparing for what he described as a “long war” aimed at punishing aggressors. Naeini stressed that the military operations conducted so far under the campaign known as Operation True Promise 4 represent only a fraction of Iran’s true military capability.

Speaking through state media, the brigadier general warned that Iran has yet to deploy many of its advanced weapons systems and hinted that the country is preparing to introduce entirely new strategic tools in the ongoing conflict.

“Our upcoming initiatives and weapons are still to come,” Naeini said, adding that many of the advanced systems have not yet been used on a large scale in combat.

He cautioned that Iran’s adversaries should expect increasingly intense waves of military action in the coming phases of the conflict. According to Naeini, each new operational stage could involve stronger and more painful attacks aimed at weakening enemy forces and demonstrating Iran’s broader military capabilities.

The announcement coincided with reports that Iran had launched its Kheibar missile toward targets linked to Israel. The Kheibar missile is known for its precision strike capability and is considered one of Iran’s advanced missile systems designed for long-range attacks.

Security analysts believe the use of such high-precision weapons could signal a shift in the scale and intensity of the ongoing conflict, raising fears that the confrontation may expand into a broader regional war.

In response to Iran’s warnings, the United States issued its own strong message, cautioning Tehran against misinterpreting Washington’s resolve. Speaking during a press conference at the headquarters of United States Central Command, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran would be mistaken if it believed the United States lacked the ability or determination to sustain its current military campaign.

“Iran hopes that we cannot continue this operation,” Hegseth said. “That would be a major misunderstanding by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”

The U.S. defense chief emphasised that American forces remain fully committed to achieving their operational goals and warned that Washington was prepared to continue the campaign for as long as necessary.

“Our commitment to the mission only grows stronger as our advantages increase,” Hegseth stated. “We have only just begun to fight, and we will fight decisively.”

Despite rising tensions, Hegseth also dismissed concerns that the conflict could trigger a major refugee crisis affecting the United States. Addressing speculation about potential migration flows from the Middle East, he said Washington currently has no plans to accept new refugees from the region.

“I think it’s fair to say that the United States of America has no plans to receive new refugees from the Middle East,” he added.

The latest warnings come against the backdrop of rapidly escalating violence across the region. On February 28, a joint military strike reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel targeted locations inside Iran. According to regional reports, the attack resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian leaders, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The strike triggered an immediate and forceful response from Tehran. In retaliation, Iran launched a series of drone and missile attacks targeting American military bases in several Arab countries. The exchange of strikes marked a dramatic escalation and pushed the conflict into its sixth consecutive day.

Meanwhile, Israel has continued its military operations against Iranian and allied targets. Israeli forces have expanded their campaign beyond Iran, striking positions linked to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed responsibility for killing a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

The Israeli military said the target, identified as Zaid Ali Juma, played a key role in coordinating artillery operations in southern Lebanon and overseeing large-scale rocket and missile attacks against Israel.

According to the IDF, Juma was responsible for directing thousands of rockets, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles toward Israeli territory from positions inside Lebanon. Israeli officials described his elimination as a major blow to Hezbollah’s operational capabilities in the region.

“Neutralised: Hezbollah Firepower Management Commander Zaid Ali Juma in Beirut,” the IDF said in its statement, adding that he had supervised artillery units responsible for launching thousands of projectiles at Israeli targets.

As military actions intensify on multiple fronts, analysts warn that the region may be entering a new and more dangerous phase of conflict. With Iran signaling readiness for a prolonged war and both U.S. and Israeli forces continuing operations, the situation remains highly volatile.

Diplomatic observers note that the coming days could prove critical in determining whether the conflict stabilises or expands further across the Middle East, potentially affecting global energy markets, trade routes, and regional security dynamics.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)