Israeli researcher Danny Citrinowicz, a senior analyst in the Iran and Shiite Axis Program at the Institute for National Security Studies, warned on 103FM radio that Iran “may activate capabilities it has not used in the past” if it comes under attack.
Speaking on Thursday morning, Citrinowicz said Iran “does not want a war, but will not be prepared to accept the dictates of US President Donald Trump,” adding that Tehran has warned that “any strike on its territory would be met with a direct attack on Israel and a comprehensive war.” His remarks were later reported by Maariv.
Citrinowicz stressed that statements by Ali Shamkhani, adviser to Iran’s spiritual leader, Sayyed Ali Khamanei, must be taken “with complete seriousness,” describing him as “one of the most influential decision-makers in Iran.” He noted that Shamkhani narrowly survived an Israeli attack last June and previously served as Iran’s defense minister and head of the Supreme National Security Council, adding that “what he says does not reflect a personal opinion alone.”
Addressing the possibility of a US strike, Citrinowicz said that even a limited American action would likely be viewed by Iran as an attempt to topple the system. “In such a scenario,” he warned, “Iran may activate a range of capabilities it did not employ during the 12-day war, including, of course, strikes against Israel.”
He added that “Israel” must assume that “once a US attack occurs, the likelihood of Israeli involvement rises significantly.”
Citrinowicz also said Iran is counting on its ability to withstand a prolonged confrontation and impose costs on Washington. “The Iranians believe that the longer the war lasts, the more damage they can inflict on the Americans, enough to force a halt to the fighting,” he said, noting that Tehran assumes Trump “does not want long wars.”
Escalating Iran standoff
The comments come amid heightened regional tensions after the US attempted to launch an aggression against Iran earlier this month. According to AFP, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman mounted a coordinated diplomatic effort on January 15 to dissuade US President Donald Trump from authorizing military strikes, warning that such an attack could trigger uncontrollable regional repercussions given the concentration of US military bases and strategic assets across the Gulf.
On the same day, diplomatic sources in Tehran told Al Mayadeen that a friendly regional party had informed Iran that Washington had reversed course on plans for military action following a reassessment of security and military risks, including the potential consequences of a large-scale strike and an evaluation of internal conditions inside Iran. Despite this reported pullback, Iranian authorities said they remained on full alert while keeping diplomatic channels open.
On January 18, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that any aggression against the Leader of the Islamic Revolution would amount to an all-out war against the Iranian nation, reinforcing it as a central red line within Iran’s deterrence doctrine.
Earlier today, CNN reported that Trump renewed threats by weighing the possibility of launching military strikes against Iran following the failure of recent talks aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear activities.
