Tehran has also changed its military doctrine to an offensive one after US-Israeli strikes, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi has warned

Iran has completed a technical upgrade of its ballistic missile arsenal and formally shifted its military doctrine to a more offensive one, the country's armed forces chief of staff has announced. The move comes as the US has deployed a carrier strike group to the region, threatening military action against Tehran.

Speaking on Wednesday during a visit to an underground Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) missile facility, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi stated that "by upgrading ballistic missiles in all technical dimensions, Iran has been able to strengthen its deterrent power."

He directly linked the strategic pivot to the "12-day war" in June 2025, when US and Israeli forces struck Iranian nuclear sites. "We have changed our military doctrine from defensive to offensive by adopting the policy of asymmetric warfare and [a] crushing response to the enemies," the commander said.

The announcement follows a major US military buildup in the region. In recent weeks, Washington has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and additional air defense systems to the Middle East, with US President Donald Trump threatening further action.

Iranian officials have warned that any US attack would prompt an immediate retaliation "where no American would be safe," risking a wider regional war.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has characterized the situation as explosively dangerous, telling RT on Wednesday that the Middle East is like a minefield waiting for a chain reaction which could be triggered by an escalation between the US and Iran.

He stated that Moscow, a close partner of Tehran, is prepared to play a constructive role if the two adversaries can find a diplomatic path forward. Russia has reiterated an offer to remove enriched uranium from Iran to help ease nuclear tensions.

Despite the hostile rhetoric, diplomatic channels remain active as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signaled on Tuesday an openness to talks with the US if they are "free of threats and unreasonable expectations."

Iranian and US diplomats are scheduled to meet in Oman on Friday for discussions on Tehran's nuclear program, marking the first high-level contact since April.

(RT.com)