Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced a fundamental shift in its military strategy, warning that any future attack on Iran will trigger not only a retaliatory response but also offensive operations against neighbouring countries and bases used in US military activities.
IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi made the announcement on Wednesday. "Our defence doctrine was previously defensive; we used to say that if a country attacks us, we will respond. Now we say that if a country attacks us, we will both respond and launch an offensive," he said.
The warning comes amid escalating attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, stalled diplomatic efforts, and reports that the United States and Israel are planning potential strikes on Iran in the coming weeks.
Mohebi said Tehran would no longer limit its military operations to retaliatory strikes, describing the new posture as "offensive and asymmetrical." He added that Iran's missile stockpile has grown 1.5 times since the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025, though he did not provide specific figures.
"The quality of the missiles has improved significantly, and their range, destructive power and accuracy in hitting targets have increased," the spokesman said.
Mohebi also stated that Iranian forces were in the "stage of preparing to unveil the 'father of all bombs'. This is something new for the enemy."
Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz continued unabated this week. The IRGC's navy said on Thursday that four vessels accused of involvement in illegal oil transfers were struck and caught fire in the northern Gulf. Three other vessels hit mines west of the strait, it added.
Before the war, one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas supplies passed through the Strait of Hormuz. While shipments through the strait remain below pre-war levels, oil exports from the region had returned to earlier volumes last month as exporters found alternative routes, including pipelines.
However, the recent surge in attacks on the waterway, combined with fighting between Yemen's Houthis and the internationally recognised Yemeni government, has pushed oil prices sharply higher. Brent crude climbed above $110 a barrel on Thursday amid fears of further disruptions to regional energy supplies.
Washington has ordered some diplomatic personnel to leave Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks originating from Yemen. US President Donald Trump has signalled that a decision on the conflict could come soon.
Analysts say Iran's doctrinal shift reflects a determination to make any future US-Israeli military action significantly more costly. Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Centre for International Policy, said Tehran was drawing lessons from the conflicts of 2025 and 2026, after its previous strategy of retaliation failed to prevent repeated attacks.
"Tehran now wants to establish a new equation: Any future attack on Iran will come at a much higher cost for the aggressors," Mortazavi said.
Unable to match conventional US military capabilities, Iran is increasingly relying on asymmetric warfare, including missiles, drones and its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, she explained.
Mortazavi also said Tehran was pursuing a broader strategy aimed at imposing military, economic and political costs on Washington, including potentially influencing the November 3 US midterm elections.
"Iran wants to teach Washington a lesson: Attacking Iran comes with a high price, one that can even cost elections," she said, referring to surveys predicting electoral losses for Trump's Republican Party.
She added that Iranian officials were closely monitoring the elections, believing the economic fallout from the war could damage Republican prospects of retaining control of Congress.
