‘We Are in a Major World War’: Iran’s Parliament Speaker Vows Enemies ‘Won’t Escape Without a Lesson’

In a chilling escalation of rhetoric that signals a conflict spiraling far beyond regional boundaries, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf declared Sunday that the Islamic Republic is engaged in nothing short of a “major world war,” warning that adversaries will not be permitted to withdraw without experiencing a devastating lesson in Iranian power. Speaking through state media, the 64-year-old hardliner accused Washington of duplicity—publicly feigning interest in negotiations while secretly preparing for a ground invasion—a miscalculation he insisted would prove fatal. “Our enemy speaks publicly of negotiations while secretly planning a ground attack, without realizing our forces are waiting for the Americans to enter,” Ghalibaf said, his words dripping with defiance. The stark proclamation comes as the Iran war enters its second month, following the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on February 28 that ignited the expanding conflict, and signals Tehran’s conviction that it faces not a limited military engagement but an existential global confrontation.

Ghalibaf’s ominous warnings painted a portrait of a regime digging in for a protracted and unforgiving struggle, vowing that Iran’s missile barrages will continue unabated. “Our launches continue, our missiles will not stop, and our determination has only grown stronger,” he declared, positioning Iran as the axis around which a regional network of resistance pivots. He praised Hezbollah in Lebanon as an “important and effective part of the resistance,” celebrated allied Iraqi forces for fighting “bravely,” and credited the Houthis in Yemen with having “breathed new life” into the campaign. With the chilling finality of a regime that sees no path to de-escalation, Ghalibaf made clear that Iran intends to ensure any end to hostilities comes on its own terms—and at a staggering price. “We will not allow our enemies to leave without demonstrating our power and turning this war into a lesson for any aggressor,” he warned, leaving little doubt that Tehran is prepared to transform the battlefield into a crucible from which no adversary emerges unscathed.