TEHRAN — Iran has officially transitioned from a defensive posture to a comprehensive offensive strategy, warning that any further American aggression will be met with overwhelming and devastating force, according to prominent Iranian academic and political analyst Mohammad Marandi.
Speaking on Al Mayadeen’s The Great Standoff: Iran and the World, Marandi emphasised that the United States is now facing a “no going back” reality. With Tehran fully prepared to escalate the conflict, he stated that Washington faces “only bad options” as the Axis of Resistance stands firm.
Intentional War Crimes by the US
Marandi dismantled the narrative that recent US strikes on Iranian soil were “accidental.” He pointed to precision bombings of civilian infrastructure—including a school in Minab, a sports complex in La Mer, and a bridge in Tehran on the national Nature Day holiday—as undeniable proof of calculated American aggression.
“Three rockets hit that place in a residential neighbourhood; there was no military asset there,” Marandi stated, emphasising that Washington intentionally targets civilians when precision weapons are deployed. “So no one can conclude but to say that this was intentional.”
Climbing the Escalation Ladder
A major turning point in the ongoing standoff occurred on September 5, when Iranian forces struck US naval ships attempting to breach the Strait of Hormuz during a ceasefire. While previous encounters involved drone strikes to send a calibrated message, Marandi noted that the recent retaliation utilised advanced missiles.
“This is an important milestone. Iran has gone up the escalation ladder,” he explained, highlighting the Islamic Republic’s technological readiness and military supremacy. Under the new leadership of the Supreme National Security Council, Tehran’s strategy is “clear as day”: any American strike will trigger a severe, unyielding reaction.
A Dire Warning to US Proxies and the Gulf
Marandi delivered a stark warning to Gulf regimes assisting the US war machine against Iran: their survival is at stake. He cautioned that an expanded escalatory conflict would be fatal for American proxies in the region.
“They will not survive an expanded escalatory conflict,” Marandi declared.
If Gulf states continue to facilitate US aggression, Marandi warned, Iran will not hesitate to obliterate their energy infrastructure. “Iran can destroy the oil fields, it can destroy the gas installations, then those pipelines will be empty,” he said, noting that rebuilding such infrastructure would take years and cost billions.
Despite the heightened tensions, Marandi clarified that Iran has not completely shuttered the Strait of Hormuz. Vital energy routes remain open to nations that do not partake in the aggression, allowing Iraqi and Chinese tankers safe passage. The blockade is strictly targeted at regimes actively aiding the United States.
Global Fallout and US Decline
Addressing the political leadership in Washington, Marandi singled out US officials—including War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent—alongside Donald Trump and Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing them of “dragging the United States down.”
He warned that Tehran “will pull no punches,” and cautioned that an all-out regional war engineered by the US would trigger a catastrophic crash of the global economy.
“Iran is prepared for escalation, and it will continue to escalate as far as necessary,” Marandi concluded. “And Iran is determined to defeat the United States.”
Reference: Al-Mayadeen