Iran's Army Makes New Threat: 'War for 10 Years'
The comments come as Iranian lawmakers approved the general outlines of a bill aimed at expanding military readiness and increasing defense funding in response to threats from Israel.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and Iran's foreign ministry for comment.
The convergence of military rhetoric and legislative action highlights Tehran's evolving security doctrine after one of the most intense military confrontations in the region's recent history. With Israel and the U.S. targeting Iranian infrastructure, and Iran launching its largest-ever missile and drone salvo, the post-conflict period has become a platform for Iran to assert strategic endurance and rally political momentum for defense expansion.
Speaking to state TV, Ashtiani said Iran had emerged from the June conflict with minimal equipment losses. He said that morale-not just firepower-will define future conflicts, arguing that Iran's adversaries lack the will to fight.
Ashtiani described Iranian forces as experienced, well-equipped, and psychologically prepared for prolonged confrontation. "What truly matters is morale. They say morale is three-fourths of the fight. Our armed forces are experienced, well-trained, equipped with modern systems, and maintain high morale," he said. "They may have equipment, but they don't have the will."
On Sunday, Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee approved the outline of a draft bill to strengthen the armed forces in response to Israeli threats. The bill is now under review by the committee's defense subcommittee. The measure follows a 200 percent defense budget increase announced in October 2024, raising next year's spending estimate to $46 billion.
Meanwhile, Iran's Fars news agency reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was injured during an Israeli attack on a secret underground facility in Tehran on June 16. According to Fars, six bombs struck all access points and the ventilation system, cutting power and trapping those inside. Pezeshkian sustained leg injuries while escaping through an emergency shaft. The report remains unverified, and Israel has not commented.
In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, a prominent political commentator, Pezeshkian claimed that Israel tried to assassinate him during its 12-day war with Iran.
Iran's Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani: "We have enough supplies to wage war for ten years if necessary. They may have equipment, but they don't have the will."
Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee spokesperson: "The general outlines of the bill to strengthen the armed forces...were approved."
Iran's military draft bill now moves into its review phase, with final revisions expected before a full parliamentary vote. If passed, it will codify a significant shift in Iran's defense posture, combining post-conflict momentum with a record military budget and formalized institutional backing.
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Los Angeles Times
a few seconds ago
- Los Angeles Times
Israel prepares to move Palestinians to southern Gaza as Israelis urge mass protest over war
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Newsweek
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- Newsweek
State Department Announces Pause on Visitor Visas From Gaza
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. State Department on Saturday announced a pause on any visitor visas for individuals from Gaza as the agency conducts a review of the "process and procedures" related to the issuance of a small number of those visas on a "temporary medical-humanitarian" basis. Right-wing activist Laura Loomer claimed on X that the pause was in response to her report that "unvetted Palestinians" were arriving in the United States. However, the State Department did not specify why it had decided to conduct the review. Newsweek reached out to the State Department by submission form outside of normal business hours on Saturday. Why It Matters Following Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel's military response, the situation in Gaza has faced several significant and rapid developments over the past month as a famine has gripped the enclave, drawing broad international attention and shifting public opinion on Israel's operations. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to occupy Gaza City in seeming contradiction to his earlier statements in which he insisted Israel would not occupy the territory. Loomer has risen to prominence following President Donald Trump's victory in last year's presidential election and subsequent return to office. She has served as one of the loudest pro-Trump supporters in the political and media spheres and is seen as an influential figure in right-wing circles. Loomer was present alongside Trump at times during his 2024 campaign, and has been tied to Trump's decision to relieve national security adviser Mike Waltz of his post, even as officials denied she played any factor. What To Know On X on Saturday morning, the State Department wrote: "All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days." Visitor visas have remained a contentious issue for the second Trump administration, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this year announcing plans to more aggressively revoke and scrutinize student visas from China, which would ostensibly be in response to failures by college institutions to crackdown on student demonstrations against Israel. Pauses on visa issuance in narrowly defined circumstances can delay urgent medical travel and complicate humanitarian coordination involving U.S. hospitals, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and foreign governments. The announcement did not specify how many visas were affected, how long the review would last, whether pending appointments or already-issued visas would be canceled or resumed, or how the State Department would handle urgent medical travel during the review. However, Loomer on X took credit for prompting the review, writing in a post that the department announced its pause "following the release of my reports yesterday exposing flights of GAZANS arriving at airports all across the U.S." In her initial posts on Friday on X, Loomer took aim at the group Heal Palestine, a nonprofit founded in 2024 to "deliver urgent relief and long-term support to Palestinian children and families," according to the group's website. Heal Palestine says on its website that it has evacuated 148 individuals, including 63 children, from Gaza to receive care in the U.S. Loomer questioned how the Palestinians received their visas and further were able to leave Gaza, calling the entire operation a "national security threat" and demanding that whoever "signed off on these visas" should be "fired." Newsweek has also reached out to Heal Palestine by email outside of normal business hours on Saturday. "Who approved the visas? How many more are being given visas to come into the US, and why are [Gavin Newsom] [Greg Abbott] harboring Palestinian 'refugees' in California and Texas?" Loomer asked. She posted several videos of people from Gaza arriving in an airport which she claimed is in the U.S. while comments under the videos said it was in Europe, possibly Belgium. She therefore applauded the State Department's decision to pause its visitor visa program, writing: "This is fantastic news. 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Inset: Displaced Palestinians attempt to fill water containers in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, on August 14. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images // AFP via Getty Images What People Are Saying Right-wing activist Laura Loomer on Saturday wrote on X: "There are doctors in other countries. It's incredible isn't it how Qatar and Saudi Arabia rolled out the camels, Red and purple carpets and the most luxurious gifts and decorations for President Trump and his staff in the Middle East." "If the Arabs have money to get flashy with Trump, they have money to buy some prosthetics for GAZANS or import them to their own hospitals and luxurious towns. They constantly brag about how rich they are. They want to shame the West into accepting more Muslim invaders. They think their bribes and flashy bling will make the West turn a blind eye. The Arabs need to pay up or just put their money where their mouth is and take these GAZANS they want to force on the West." Representative Randy Fine of Florida wrote on X: "BREAKING: [Donald Trump] and [Marco Rubio] have immediately halted visas to Gazans that were being issued by deep state actors while we get to the bottom of how this national security risk was allowed. Massive credit needs to be given to [Laura Loomer] for uncovering this and making me and other officials aware. Well done, Laura." What Happens Next? The Department's post indicated a review was underway but did not provide a timeline, leaving the duration and operational consequences of the pause uncertain.
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Druze hold largest protest since deadly clashes in Syria
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