The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) released a statement marking the Sacred Defense Week that drew parallels between the enduring lessons of the Iran-Iraq War and the recent 12-day war imposed by "Israel", affirming the nation's continued capability to maintain its strategic initiative and effectively deter external threats.

The IRGC stated that Iran's armed forces, guided by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Sayyed Ali Khamenei and inspired by past defense experiences, have achieved notable self-sufficiency, battlefield initiative, and operational readiness.

The statement underlined that effective deterrence stems from constant readiness, innovation in strategy and tactics, and ongoing development of advanced defense systems, stating, “In the event of any miscalculation or aggression, the Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain battlefield initiative and deliver another decisive and instructive response."

The IRGC emphasized that despite harsh sanctions and multi-layered pressures, it has relied on indigenous knowledge and capabilities to maintain self-sufficiency, counter advanced militaries, and thwart enemy objectives.

It warned that any hostile action, particularly by the US or the Israeli regime, against Iran’s national interests or territorial integrity, will be met with a “decisive, crushing, and timely response” from the armed forces, emphasizing that full-readiness across land, air, sea, missile, cyber, and intelligence capabilities remains in place to protect the nation.

Sacred Defense Week is an annual observance that honors the spirit of popular Resistance and commemorates the Iran-Iraq War, which is viewed within Iran as a period of national resilience where the nation, despite a comprehensive global aggression, successfully defended its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the foundational principles of the Islamic Establishment.