Iran has officially declared that the conflict with the United States and Israel is no longer “limited.” In an exclusive interview, Iranian international affairs journalist Khayal Muazzini explains why Tehran views current events as merely the beginning of a large-scale war, whether Iran is prepared to block the Strait of Hormuz, and how Donald Trump’s threats are perceived within the country.
– How is the current phase of the conflict assessed in Iran today? Is it still a limited military confrontation, or has it become a prolonged campaign with long-term consequences for the region?
Today in Iran, the current phase of the conflict is no longer perceived as a limited confrontation. What is happening now is viewed by many as the beginning of a longer campaign with serious consequences for the entire region. The professionalism that Iranian military forces have demonstrated in this war has evoked a sense of pride both among the Iranian people and the international community.
Iran has shown that it is capable of creating an extremely difficult situation for the United States and the Zionist regime in the region in a short period of time. I believe we are only at the beginning of much larger-scale events.
Iran has been preparing for this war for many years and has developed both its military potential and a strategic plan for conducting the war. Therefore, it is Iran, not the United States or Western countries, that will determine the outcome of this conflict. In the coming days, in my opinion, the war may enter a new phase, and the blood of our dear martyrs will come at a very high cost to the entire region. This war is already going beyond the framework of an ordinary military confrontation and is gradually turning into a geopolitical clash that could change the balance of power across the entire Middle East.
– US officials claim that Iran has suffered serious losses to its military infrastructure. How are these statements perceived in Iranian society and expert circles? How much do they correspond to what is being discussed inside the country?
Despite Trump’s attempts to shape public opinion with his statements, the real military operations of Iran and the situation in the region are there for everyone to see. Trump’s words have already lost their seriousness and political weight in public perception. Every time he makes another loud statement, Iran, through its actions, destroys this information game and shows the world where the truth lies.
Trump can only defeat Iran in games on his PlayStation, but not on the real battlefield.
As for Iranian society, such statements are practically not taken seriously here. The Iranian people are already confident in their country’s military strength and understand the potential of their own defense system well. This is why people do not run to the subway or shelters, but continue living their lives, remain in their homes, and maintain calm. This shows a high level of public confidence and understanding that the state controls the situation and possesses sufficient capabilities to continue the confrontation.
– The US also claims that Iran may face a reduction in its missile stockpiles. How much is this issue discussed inside the country, and do Iranian experts consider such assessments realistic?
As I have already said, Iran has been preparing for this war for many years and has calculated all possible scenarios. If we recall the Iran-Iraq war, at that time Iran did not have such military strength, but the Iranian people were able to wage war for eight years and withstand. Today, Iran possesses a completely different level of military potential and defense capabilities.
The country has a developed missile industry, its own weapons production, and many years of experience in withstanding sanctions and military pressure.
Therefore, talking about the country quickly exhausting its capabilities is simply not serious. Iran approached this war with a pre-prepared strategy designed not for a few days, but for a long-term confrontation. That is precisely why such statements are perceived inside the country as an element of information pressure and psychological warfare.
– The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the key points of world trade. How seriously is the possibility of blocking it as an instrument of pressure discussed in Iran?
Today it can be said that the Strait of Hormuz is under the actual strategic control of Iran. Despite Trump’s attempts to convince various countries to continue transiting through the strait, using political promises and pressure, many states are simply not ready to take such a risk. Those who try to ignore this reality receive an appropriate response.
This is precisely why the Strait of Hormuz remains the most important geopolitical instrument of pressure. Its significance extends far beyond the region because a huge portion of world energy trade passes through it. Any change in the situation in the strait instantly reflects on the global economy and energy markets.
– From a military perspective, do Iranian analysts believe that the US is capable of forcibly ensuring the permanent opening of the Strait of Hormuz if tensions around it increase?
If the US really had the ability to forcibly ensure complete control over the strait, they would have done so long ago. But we see a completely different picture. Oil prices continue to rise, world markets react to every development, and this shows that even global economic players understand the level of risk. More and more countries are beginning to realize that there is no longer absolute certainty in US military dominance. Any attempt at forceful control over the Strait of Hormuz could lead to large-scale regional escalation and serious consequences for the world economy.
– In your observations, are there signals coming from other Middle Eastern countries with calls for de-escalation and cessation of strikes to prevent the conflict from expanding?
Today, the US and Israel are knocking on many doors, trying to stop this war, but so far it is not yielding results. The diplomatic doors are practically closed to them. The political reality is such that key decisions inside Iran are in the hands of the state’s security bloc, primarily the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It is these structures that determine the strategic direction and make decisions on the further course of the war. Therefore, any attempts to exert pressure through diplomatic channels do not produce the expected result.
– How seriously is the risk considered in Iran that some countries in the region may be drawn into the conflict and begin to act independently?
Iran is not concerned about this. The country has already demonstrated its ability to conduct a confrontation even under pressure from the US, NATO, and their allies. The world has seen that Iran is capable of acting simultaneously against several states while maintaining strategic stability. That is precisely why many believe that the conflict could enter a regional phase. Ayatollah Khamenei had previously warned about this, stating that any intervention by external forces would lead to serious consequences for the entire security architecture of the Middle East.
– In the current situation, how is the minimally acceptable outcome of the war formulated in Iran? What results would allow Tehran to consider that its strategic interests have been protected?
The minimally acceptable outcome of this war for Iran is formulated quite clearly. First and foremost, it concerns the preservation of full sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. The second important point is the demonstration that military pressure, sanctions, and threats are not capable of forcing Iran to abandon its strategic line. The third is the formation of a new regional balance in which the US and Israel cannot dictate security rules in the Middle East. Furthermore, it is fundamentally important for Iran that the international community recognizes the country’s legitimate right to develop its own nuclear program for peaceful purposes. If these conditions are met, Tehran will be able to declare that its strategic interests have been protected and that the attempt to pressure Iran has definitively failed.
