Iran warns next war will last longer with 100kg drone warheads
Military leaders told the Supreme Leader that new asymmetric tactics and expanded target lists would be deployed if hostilities with the United States and Israel resume after the November midterms.
By Paula Delgado ·
Iranian military officials stated on Sunday that a renewed conflict with the United States and Israel would be longer and more expensive than Western commanders anticipate. The announcement comes as President Donald Trump warned that the war, which began on February 28, will end "very soon one way or the other" or that "the hammer" will come down.
Hossein Kanani Moghaddam, a former senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, said the armed forces are now in better operational shape than during previous engagements. He noted that the target database has expanded and that missile range, accuracy, and warheads have improved. The military claims it will use previously undisclosed capabilities if attacked again.
The current standoff follows two major conflicts since June of last year. A brief ceasefire followed the June memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US. During that pause, Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said some weaponry was renovated and new equipment was added. He added that commanders would rely on asymmetric warfare to offset the superior equipment of the US military.
State television showed an underground drone production line last month. The authorities displayed an upgraded Arash attack drone with a warhead that doubled to 100 kilograms. IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi declared the force "100 percent ready" for another attack. He said Iran aims to reach a state of "maximum deterrence" in the near future.
A Reuters investigation published last week found that Iranian defense agencies evaded sanctions to funnel billions of dollars into military imports. Between January 2025 and June of this year, imports from China, Russia, and Germany included rocket propellants, explosives, titanium, and heavy-duty trucks for missile and drone production.
Kanani Moghaddam pointed to the successful targeting of a US-built F-35 and other aircraft as examples of improved accuracy. He also stated that Iran can easily target supertankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed that Iranian attacks on US Navy vessels in September stopped them from entering that waterway, though the US maintains a naval blockade on southern Iranian ports.
The new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not been seen or heard from since replacing his father in early March. State-linked analyst Hamzeh Rahim Safavi blamed "intelligence weakness" for the losses of senior figures in previous strikes. He said no one is being held accountable for these failures.
Parliamentary national-security commission member Esmaeil Kowsari told local media that the enemies did not reach their main goals of overthrowing the government. He said the US is launching psychological operations on the eve of its elections to pretend victory. Civilian shelters and early warning systems in Tehran and other cities remain largely undeveloped.
