The big picture:
Khatibzadeh made these remarks during a session titled "The Israeli Regime's Aggression Against Iran: The Future Outlook," held at the Center for Political Studies in Tehran, attended by a group of Iranian and non-Iranian analysts.
What he's saying:
During the session, when asked how Iran would respond if Israel were to initiate another act of aggression, Khatibzadeh replied: "Some say Iran acted weakly because the response it intended to deliver was announced in advance. We know how to strategically advance our political agenda."
"When our facilities were attacked, Iran decided to strike the port of Haifa. They expected Iran to respond in Iraq or another country, but Iran chose to target the U.S. base in Qatar. Through this action, we sent the message that we are prepared."
Khatibzadeh continued: "Iran is a country of 90 million people—it is not a small nation. We are aware of our weaknesses, but we also know our strengths. Our entire military personnel were ready, and the decision was made on how to respond."
He further stated: "Over the past 200 years, Iran has not invaded any country, but it knows how to put an end to aggression. What the U.S. did was unforgivable and unforgettable—a blatant act of aggression against Iran. This stemmed from a miscalculation. Trump claimed he sought Iran’s surrender, but the moment their ceasefire request came through, it became clear that they realized Iran is not a country that surrenders."
Go deeper:
Top Iranian Commander: Armed Forces Responded to Aggression with Full Power
Hossein Amiri
