Hegseth outlines the strategy for war against Iran, and Larijani responds
In a notable statement on Monday, US Defense Secretary Pete Higseth asserted that the war against Iran, which his country is waging in cooperation with Israel, is in no way aimed at "establishing democracy" or regime change through a ground invasion. These remarks put an end to speculation about the nature of the US military intervention, as Higseth, in his first press conference since the escalation of tensions, emphasized that Washington would not repeat the mistakes of the past.
The Pentagon's shift in doctrine regarding dealing with Tehran
Higseth articulated Washington’s new vision for the conflict, stating, “No more stupid rules of engagement, no more nation-building quagmires, no more democracy-building processes. No more politically correct wars. We fight to win, and we don’t waste time or lives.” This statement reflects a radical shift in American military doctrine compared to previous wars in the region, with the Pentagon moving away from the “nation-building” policies that drained American resources for decades, favoring instead a strategy of decisive strikes and direct deterrence without becoming entangled in a prolonged occupation.
In a related context, Hegseth categorically denied the presence of any American forces inside Iranian territory as part of the joint attack, but he left the door open to all other possibilities by saying: "We will go as far as we need to," stressing the readiness of American forces to expand the scope of operations if the military situation requires it, which sends strongly worded warning messages about how serious Washington is about this confrontation.
The repercussions of the escalation on Middle East security
These developments come against the backdrop of a complex historical context of hostile US-Iranian relations since 1979. This current escalation carries far-reaching geopolitical risks; open confrontation could destabilize the entire Middle East, directly impacting international shipping lanes and global energy markets. Observers believe that the shift from proxy wars to direct confrontation presents the region with a range of unpredictable scenarios that could reshape regional and international alliances.
The Iranian response: Adherence to history and civilization
On the other hand, the Iranian response was swift and decisive, delivered by the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, who affirmed that his country would defend itself against the American-Israeli attack "whatever the cost." Larijani wrote in a post on the X platform: "We will continue to fiercely defend ourselves and our six-thousand-year-old civilization, whatever the cost, and we will make the enemies regret their miscalculation.".
Larijani’s statements reflect Tehran’s reliance on its historical and national heritage to mobilize the home front to confront external pressures, indicating that Tehran is preparing for a long-term confrontation scenario, relying on its defensive capabilities to raise the cost of any military action against it.
