Iranian Commander Brags of Anti-Israel Jihad, War on All Fronts

Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP

| Published May 30, 2025

In a recent address, Major General Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), declared that Iran is engaged in a “full-scale war” against Israel and its allies. Salami emphasized Iran’s commitment to confronting its adversaries on multiple fronts, including military, economic, and ideological battles. He asserted that the Iranian nation, under the leadership of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stands resolute and unwavering in its opposition to what it perceives as global Zionist and imperialist forces.

Salami’s rhetoric underscores Iran’s longstanding position of opposition to Israel’s existence, a stance that has been a cornerstone of Iranian foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This declaration aligns with previous statements by Iranian officials, including former IRGC commanders, who have openly called for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic order in the region.

The IRGC’s involvement in various regional conflicts, through support for groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen, reflects Iran’s strategy of exerting influence and pursuing its objectives via proxy forces. This approach allows Iran to challenge its adversaries while maintaining plausible deniability and avoiding direct confrontation.

Salami’s statements and the IRGC’s actions contribute to the ongoing volatility in the Middle East, highlighting the complex interplay of regional power dynamics, ideological conflicts, and the challenges facing efforts toward peace and stability in the region.

Implications of Iran’s Escalatory Rhetoric Against Israel

1. Increased Regional Tensions and Risk of Conflict

• Salami’s declaration signals a hardening of Iran’s stance against Israel, increasing the likelihood of proxy or direct confrontations in the region.

• Heightened rhetoric can provoke Israeli preemptive strikes or escalations against Iranian-backed groups, raising the risk of a wider Middle East war.

2. Impact on U.S. and Allied Policy

• The U.S. and its allies may feel compelled to bolster military support for Israel and regional partners, heightening tensions with Tehran.

• Sanctions or covert operations targeting Iran’s IRGC could intensify, complicating diplomatic efforts.

3. Proxy Warfare and Regional Instability

• Iran’s continued support for Hezbollah, Hamas, and other proxies means these groups may escalate attacks against Israel, contributing to ongoing cycles of violence.

• Civilian populations in Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria may suffer more as these proxy conflicts intensify.

4. Challenges to Middle East Peace Prospects

• Salami’s aggressive posture undermines any near-term prospects for peace negotiations between Israel and Iran or its proxies.

• It complicates regional diplomacy efforts and may stall or reverse normalization talks involving Arab states.

5. Domestic and International Messaging

• For domestic audiences, this rhetoric reinforces the regime’s narrative of resistance and defiance against perceived external enemies, bolstering regime legitimacy.

• Internationally, it signals Iran’s unwillingness to back down, which could harden global perceptions of Iran as a destabilizing force.

Overall Takeaway:

Iran’s IRGC commander Hossein Salami’s declaration of “full-scale war” against Israel underscores Tehran’s ongoing commitment to confront Israel and its allies through direct and proxy means. This escalatory rhetoric raises the risk of intensified conflict in the volatile Middle East, complicates diplomatic efforts for peace, and signals Tehran’s refusal to ease its adversarial stance. The statements also reinforce Iran’s strategic use of regional proxies to challenge Israel while avoiding direct confrontation, perpetuating instability in the region.

SOURCES: PJ MEDIA – Iranian Commander Brags of Anti-Israel Jihad, War on All Fronts