Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned the United States against stepping up further attacks, saying Tehran would change its military response and use weapons and targets which have not been used before.
The warning came on Monday, September 21, 2026, as Washington and Tehran continued to clash as the war was on.
IRGC Warns of New Military Response.
IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said that any new US attack would result in serious changes to Iran's defensive and counteroffensive operations. Mohebbi also said Iran will change the weapons it uses and the geography of the conflict if another attack occurs. Iran has identified targets that have not before been attacked, he said.
A new offensive would likely lead to a larger or different situation, he said.
Iran Says It Is Ready for a Prolonged War.
The IRGC also said Iran was prepared for a prolonged war.
Mohebbi said the conflict had not ended from Iran's point of view and was an ongoing war that had gone through different phases. The IRGC said it had prepared for a long battle and remained ready if fighting intensified again.
The statement comes as fighting between the two sides has seemingly quieted down in recent days, and there is still tension around military activity and the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, he said.
Strait of Hormuz Remains an Issue.
The Strait of Hormuz is still a major part of that confrontation.
The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and is one of the main routes for international energy shipments. The dispute over access and security in the region has only complicated the U.S. and Iran conflict.
Iran has previously linked the reopening of the waterway to conditions it wants addressed as part of any potential agreement.
Conflict Has Wider Regional Impact.
The confrontations are also being felt in other parts of the Middle East.
The conflict is said to have spread to Yemen as well, where Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have been attacking and fighting against Iran-backed groups. The conflict is also affecting other regional shipping routes and countries, too.
There has been also increased attention on commercial shipping and security in those maritime routes.
What Is Next?
Iran’s latest statement does not confirm that a new offensive has been ordered. Rather, it is a warning about what Tehran says it would do if the United States launched another attack.
The mention of new weapons and previously untargeted locations has increased concerns about the possibility of a wider conflict. But the exact weapons, locations and operational plans mentioned by the IRGC have not been publicly detailed.
