Iran Warns US of ‘Devastating Response’ if Washington Launches New War

TEHRAN (Terror Monitor) — Iran’s senior security official and former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Mohsen Rezaei has warned the United States that any renewed military confrontation with Iran would be met with a “devastating response,” while mocking the Trump administration over the Republican Party’s defeat in the US midterm elections and reported uncertainty surrounding several senior American officials.

Rezaei, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council and a former commander of the IRGC, issued the warning in a post on the social media platform X on Saturday, November 7.

Addressing the US leadership, Rezaei questioned who in Washington should receive Tehran’s warning, suggesting that political developments in the United States had weakened the administration's position.

“You lost the war and the election. Vance has conceded, Rubio is heading for the exit, Hegseth is about to be fired, and the CENTCOM commander is now a podcaster!” Rezaei wrote.

He added: “So, who exactly in Washington do we need to get this message across to? Start a war, and you’ll face a devastating response.”

The remarks came amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington following months of military confrontation, political disagreements and uncertainty surrounding efforts to reach a broader agreement to end the conflict.

US Midterm Defeat Adds to Political Pressure

Rezaei’s comments followed the November 3 US midterm elections, in which Democrats won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, ending the Republican Party’s control of Congress.

According to a November 4 report by Reuters, US Vice President JD Vance publicly questioned the value of the war against Iran and acknowledged that the conflict had contributed to the Republican Party’s electoral losses.

In a post on X, Vance said the war was the reason Republicans had lost the elections and described his earlier advice to end the conflict as sound. His remarks highlighted growing differences within the Trump administration over the costs and consequences of the military campaign.

US President Donald Trump, however, defended his decision to launch the war, arguing that Washington had prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump also acknowledged that the conflict had played a role in his party’s electoral setback. Reuters

Uncertainty Surrounding Senior US Officials

Rezaei’s reference to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth came amid reports of possible changes within the Trump administration.

According to Kurdistan 24, reports have suggested that Rubio could eventually leave the administration to pursue his political ambitions ahead of the 2028 presidential election. However, neither Rubio nor the White House has confirmed such a departure.

Similarly, US media reports have indicated that Trump had discussed Hegseth's position with advisers following the Republican electoral defeat. Nevertheless, Trump publicly expressed support for the defense secretary, and no official decision to dismiss him had been announced.

Rezaei also mocked US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Admiral Brad Cooper by referring to his appearance in the military command's newly launched podcast, Inside CENTCOM, which featured Cooper as its first guest.

Renewed Military Confrontation Remains a Concern

The Iranian official's warning comes as Washington continues to consider its options regarding the conflict with Tehran.

In its November 4 report, Reuters said Trump had received military options for potentially resuming major combat operations against Iran. The report, citing US officials familiar with the discussions, said renewed strikes remained under consideration despite concerns that additional military action might not fundamentally change Iran's negotiating position.

Reuters also reported that the conflict had reached an effective stalemate following an April ceasefire that failed to produce a comprehensive peace agreement. Iran had subsequently recovered some of its weapons stockpiles and continued threatening shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about global energy supplies.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts have continued through regional intermediaries, including Qatar, although disagreements over Iran's nuclear programme remain a major obstacle to a broader agreement.

International Media Coverage

Anadolu Agency reported on Saturday that Rezaei's warning reflected Tehran's response to the changing political situation in Washington following the midterm elections.

Pakistan's Dawn newspaper also reported the warning, highlighting Rezaei's remarks that the United States would face a devastating response if it initiated another war against Iran.

Iran International separately covered the statement, describing it as a public challenge to the Trump administration amid political uncertainty following the Republican Party's electoral defeat. Anadolu Agency +2

Rezaei's latest remarks underscore Tehran's continued warnings against renewed military action, although his statements do not in themselves establish that another US attack is imminent.