Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior Iranian military adviser, warned that Tehran could launch a full-scale offensive against the U.S. [1].
The threat signals a potential shift in Iranian military strategy, moving away from calibrated responses toward a broader conflict that could destabilize the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding regions.
Rezaei said that the offensive would be triggered if U.S. strikes continue for another two to three days [1]. This timeline suggests a narrow window for diplomatic or military escalation before Iran changes its operational posture.
According to the military adviser, Tehran will no longer limit its retaliation to "like-for-like" attacks [2]. He said that the current U.S. actions constitute an escalation that necessitates a more aggressive response.
"No border will be safe; we will not limit ourselves to like-for-like retaliation," Rezaei said [2].
The warning specifically targets U.S. forces and assets, with particular emphasis on the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz [2]. The Iranian leadership indicated that the scale of future operations would be determined by the duration and intensity of the ongoing U.S. strikes.
"If the United States continues its strikes for another two to three days, Tehran will be forced to launch a full-scale offensive," Rezaei said [1].
“No border will be safe; we will not limit ourselves to like-for-like retaliation.”
This escalation represents a departure from Iran's typical strategy of asymmetric or proportional retaliation. By threatening a 'full-scale offensive' and stating that 'no border' is safe, Tehran is signaling a willingness to expand the geographic scope of the conflict beyond traditional proxies or targeted strikes, potentially risking a direct regional war to deter further U.S. military intervention.
