The Next War
The 12-Day Aftermath: Iran Officials Claim New Missiles Are Far More Capable Than Last War's
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif claimed Israel underestimated Iran's resilience in the last war and warned that any future aggression would be met with Iranian self-defense, noting that de-escalation is in Israel's best interest.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, Zarif stressed that de-escalation would ultimately be "best for them," referring to Israel. He claimed that Israel had underestimated Iran's resilience when the war resumed in June 2025.
"I think Israelis entered this aggression against us based on miscalculations and at the end of the day, they found out that the resistance of the people of Iran will prevent them from achieving their objectives, and that is what ended the war," Zarif stated.
Prepared for Response
Zarif was keen to emphasize that Iran is not interested in initiating hostilities but is fully prepared to respond if attacked. "Israel knows that Iran is capable of inflicting harm, but Iran is not interested in doing that other than in self-defense, so if they stop and forget about future aggressions, it’s best for them," he warned.
These remarks follow the 12-day war in June 2025, a period that saw Israel strike key Iranian military and nuclear facilities. The United States later joined the action, launching strikes on Iran's crucial nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. US President Donald Trump subsequently announced that those nuclear sites were completely destroyed, and then-Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi admitted that "serious" damage had been inflicted upon Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
Building Superior Missiles
Since the cessation of hostilities, Iranian officials have been vocal about the potential for renewed war. In August, Iran's Defense Minister, Aziz Nassirzadeh, declared that Tehran had developed more advanced missiles and was prepared for any future Israeli attack.
Speaking to state media, Nassirzadeh warned, "The missiles used in the 12-day war were manufactured, a few years ago." He added a stark threat: "Today, we have manufactured and possess missiles with far greater capabilities than previous missiles, and if the Zionist enemy embarks on the adventure again, we will undoubtedly use them."
Prior to that, senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Yahya Rahim Safavi had warned that another war with Israel or the United States remains likely, dismissing the current ceasefire as merely a temporary pause in a broader, ongoing war. Zarif's comments in Doha now reinforce the consistent message from Tehran that while they claim they do not seek war, they are ready to respond with greater force than before.