Iran’s top military commander, Army Chief Amir Hatami, issued a grave warning to the United States and Israel on Saturday, declaring the nation’s armed forces at maximum readiness following significant US naval deployments to the Persian Gulf. The heightened alert comes as Washington dispatched the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to the region, escalating already volatile tensions.
Hatami delivered his stark message through Iran’s official IRNA news agency, stating unequivocally that any hostile action by ‘the enemy’ would jeopardize regional security and specifically endanger Israel. The military leader simultaneously asserted the irreversible nature of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, declaring that the country’s nuclear expertise ‘cannot be eliminated, even if scientists and sons of this nation are martyred’—a reference to previous attacks on nuclear facilities and personnel.
The current military buildup follows weeks of civil unrest within Iran that began in late December as economic protests before transforming into broader anti-government demonstrations. Iranian authorities reported 3,117 fatalities from the disturbances, though independent watchdog HRANA documented over 6,500 deaths. The Iranian government has consistently blamed the United States and Israel for instigating what it terms ‘terrorist operations’ behind the unrest.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) prepared for live-fire naval exercises in the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz—a vital global energy transit corridor. US Central Command issued warnings against any ‘unsafe and unprofessional behavior’ during these drills. The IRGC’s designation as a terrorist organization by both the United States (2019) and recently by the European Union has further strained international relations, prompting vows of reciprocal action from Tehran.
Amid these developments, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for governmental attention to public grievances while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei participated in ceremonies marking the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, underscoring the regime’s determination to maintain national unity during this period of heightened external pressure.