Aref: Iran will not start a war, but will determine its end
IRGC says Israel suffered miscalculation in 12-day imposed war
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said on Monday that while the country is not seeking war, its strategy is clear: if they begin a war against Iran, it will be Iran that decides its end.
Speaking at a meeting with Iranian university chancellors, Aref stated, “We are in a situation where a war was imposed on us. We are not in a cease-fire, but rather in a state of cessation of fire. Therefore, we must be prepared at any moment to confront the enemy.”
He stressed that Iran prefers dialogue to resolve disputes but questioned whether the opposing side genuinely believes in negotiations or not.
On June 13, 2025, the Israeli regime launched a 12-day aggression against Iran, targeting several civilian, military, and nuclear facilities.
In retaliation, Iran unleashed waves of drones and missiles at the Occupied Territories, inflicting significant damage on both settlements and military installations.
On June 22, 2025, the US Air Force and Navy carried out airstrikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities in an attempt to relieve pressure on the Israeli regime.
The following day, June 23, Iranian forces retaliated with over 30 drones and missiles against the US base in Qatar, damaging multiple parts of the facility.
Finally, on June 24, after suffering heavy losses at the hands of Iran’s Armed Forces, both the Israeli regime and the US were forced to agree to a cessation of hostilities.
The deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) also said on Monday Israel suffered miscalculation in the 12-day war, even though the regime used full force against the Islamic Republic.
“The Zionist enemy and the US entered the war with their full power, but they suffered a miscalculation as they were certain of success, which did not happen,” Brigadier General Ali Fadavi said on Monday.
He said that in the early days of the war, there were communications between regional leaders and the Israeli aggressors, but after a few days, the “situation turned in our favor.”
Warning against enemy miscalculations, he asserted, “If this trend continues, they will soon realize the gravity of their mistakes.”
General Fadavi added that Iran’s “missiles crossing the skies over Iraq and striking critical positions of the Israeli regime during the 12-day war demonstrate such victories.”