Published: · Region: Middle East · Category: geopolitics

Iran Learns ‘How to Fight America’: Naqdi’s Stark Deterrence Threat Raises Escalation Risk

In a series of on‑record comments, Revolutionary Guard Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi says five months of war have taught Iran “how to fight with America,” vowing that rockets will keep flying for years and that US economic interests worldwide are vulnerable. His remarks shed rare light on Tehran’s deterrence logic, its view of the US military’s weaknesses, and the role of Ayatollah Khamenei’s son Mojtaba in war strategy.

Iran is using its confrontation with the United States as a live‑fire classroom, according to one of the Revolutionary Guard’s most outspoken commanders. Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior figure in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has said in detailed interviews that five months of conflict have given Iran the “real war” experience it lacked and taught it how to fight American forces, which he now portrays as weaker than Iranian leaders once believed. Naqdi’s comments are striking not just for their content but for their candor at a moment when a temporary Iran–US ceasefire arrangement is under strain and regional attacks on US forces and shipping are mounting.…

Pro features include

  • 60+ analytical tools across markets and intelligence
  • Custom alerts, watchlists, and AOI monitoring
  • Daily Pro brief at 6 PM ET — 12 hours before free tier
  • Conflict deep dives and premium research products

Related Coverage

MIDDLE EAST

Iran–US Truce Nears Collapse as Hormuz Shipping Freeze Fuels Oil Market Pressure

A temporary ceasefire understanding between Iran and the United States expires within days with no talks on extension, even as attacks on shipping and threats against US forces have already slowed Strait of Hormuz traffic to a fraction of normal. With an Iranian commander vowing years of war and warning that US economic targets are exposed, energy markets, Gulf states and military planners face a narrower margin for miscalculation.
MIDDLE EAST

Ansarallah Attack in Bab al‑Mandab Puts Global Shipping Crews Back in the Crosshairs

An Ansarallah strike on a Saudi‑linked cargo ship in the Bab al‑Mandab has killed four crew members and left the vessel out of control, according to Yemen’s transport ministry, with two Yemeni coast guard rescuers reported dead during recovery efforts. The attack turns one of the world’s narrowest trade corridors into a lethal workplace for seafarers and first responders, with direct implications for energy flows and insurance costs between Europe and Asia.
MIDDLE EAST

Houthi Bab al-Mandeb Strike Turns Red Sea Shipping Lane into a Deadlier Chokepoint

A Houthi drone or missile strike has killed four crew members on a small cargo ship in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the first reported fatalities from the group’s campaign against regional shipping since late February. The attack raises the cost of transiting one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, putting ship crews, insurers, and Red Sea trade under renewed strain.
WARNING

Israel Vows Long-Term Military Presence in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, Cementing Multi-Front Conflict

Israel’s defense minister ordered the IDF around 14:27–15:02 UTC to prepare for an open‑ended stay in security zones across Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, publicly ruling out withdrawal. The shift locks Israel, Hezbollah, Syrian factions and Palestinian groups into a grinding, multi‑front confrontation that will drain state resources, prolong displacement, and keep Middle East risk premia and defense demand elevated for years, not months.
WARNING

Reports: Russia Turns to Indian Gasoline as Ukraine Refinery Strikes Squeeze Fuel Supply

Russia is now importing gasoline from India after sustained Ukrainian attacks on refineries triggered a domestic fuel crunch, according to new reports at 15:01 UTC. A G7 energy exporter being forced into emergency product imports signals deeper structural damage to Russia’s refining network and will rewire product flows, freight rates, and sanctions‑evasion patterns across Eurasia.
WARNING

Reports: Iran–US Peace Talks Stall as Ship Attacks Tighten Oil Supply Fears

A senior Iranian source told Reuters around 13:55 UTC that negotiations with Washington to revive June’s provisional peace deal are now ‘completely stalled’ just as attacks on commercial shipping are pushing crude prices higher. The breakdown sharply raises the risk that Iran or aligned groups will keep targeting vessels and energy infrastructure, extending the geopolitical risk premium in oil and freight markets.