Muhammad Amanullah | August 13, 2026
The True Post (News Desk) — Iran has signaled a major shift in its military strategy, emphasizing the development of capabilities that would allow its forces to conduct operations beyond Iranian territory and into enemy territory if necessary.
Brigadier General Reza Naqdi, a senior adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said Iranian forces are being directed under a new military doctrine to develop capabilities that could allow a potential conflict to be taken beyond Iran’s borders.
In an interview with Iranian media, Naqdi said the IRGC has been ordered to strengthen its military capabilities to a level where Iran would not be limited to defending its own territory but would also have the ability to conduct operations against an adversary on its own territory if a war broke out.
Shift in Iran’s Defense Strategy
Brigadier General Reza Naqdi did not name any specific country, but said the ability to conduct long-range operations would be a key element of Iran’s new defense strategy.
According to Naqdi, the IRGC has been instructed to maintain full preparedness so that if Iran faces a threat, it would not be restricted to defending its own territory and could also conduct operations in enemy territory.
His comments come at a time when tensions and military confrontation between Iran and the United States have already reached a serious level.
Taking the War to Enemy Territory
Naqdi said the purpose of the new military doctrine is to take Iran’s defense capabilities into a new phase.
Iran, he suggested, wants to reach a position where it has the military capabilities necessary to conduct operations against an adversary if a potential war occurs.
He said the IRGC has been instructed to strengthen its combat readiness and military capabilities according to this approach.
The statement suggests that Iran is placing greater emphasis on the ability to respond to a potential attack by taking military action against an adversary beyond its own borders, rather than relying solely on territorial defense.
Criticism of the United States
The Iranian general also compared the defense budgets of Iran and the United States, claiming that the U.S. military budget is approximately 100 times larger than Iran’s defense budget.
However, he claimed that despite the United States’ military superiority, Iran achieved its defensive objectives during the recent conflict and that all 14 U.S. targets failed.
Naqdi did not provide further details to support the claim.
His comments nevertheless indicate that Iranian leadership considers the country’s military capabilities effective despite the significantly greater defense resources available to the United States.
Role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is one of Iran’s most important military forces and plays a central role in the country’s defense strategy.
Iran’s announcement that the IRGC’s capabilities will be further strengthened under the new doctrine suggests that Tehran wants to maintain a broader military response capability in future conflicts.
Iranian officials have long maintained that the country’s military capabilities are intended to counter external threats. However, the latest statement places particular emphasis on the ability to conduct operations against an adversary on its own territory.
No Specific Country Named
Brigadier General Reza Naqdi did not identify any specific country as a potential target.
Instead, he discussed Iran’s broader military strategy and the capabilities that the IRGC is expected to develop.
Nevertheless, his comments have gained particular significance given the ongoing tensions in the region, including recent direct military confrontation and increasingly hostile statements between Iran and the United States.
Preparing for a Potential War
According to the Iranian official, the new doctrine requires Iran to develop a military position from which it can respond effectively to any potential conflict.
The strategy places importance not only on defensive measures but also on retaliation.
In other words, if Iran were attacked, Tehran wants to have the capability to conduct operations against the opposing side beyond Iranian territory.
This represents a potentially important shift in Iran’s broader defense thinking, incorporating the ability to extend a conflict into an adversary’s territory when necessary.
Potential Regional Impact
Iran’s indication that it intends to strengthen offensive military capabilities comes as the Middle East is already facing multiple conflicts and security crises.
For analysts, a change in Iran’s military doctrine could be significant because greater long-range operational capabilities could affect the regional balance of power and the nature of future conflicts.
Iran has continued to focus on missiles, drones and other advanced military capabilities. Against this backdrop, its emphasis on the ability to operate in enemy territory could signal a more assertive direction in its defense policy.
Iran’s Message
The central message from Brigadier General Reza Naqdi is that Iran does not want to rely solely on absorbing an attack or defending its borders in a future conflict.
Tehran instead wants to develop military capabilities that would allow an adversary’s territory to become part of its potential retaliatory response.
If Iran continues expanding its military capabilities in accordance with this doctrine, the consequences could extend beyond Iran-U.S. relations and affect the broader security environment of the Middle East and the potential character of future military conflicts in the region.
