IRGC says the Islamic Republic has dropped its defensive doctrine

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Wednesday 21 October 2026 that the Islamic Republic's military doctrine is no longer purely defensive and that, if attacked, it will not only respond but also go on the attack. The IRGC spokesman said: "Iran's doctrine used to be defensive"; according to him, if a country attacks now, the Islamic Republic will both respond and attack.

Hossein Mohebbi, spokesman for the IRGC, in an interview with a regime-affiliated news agency, called the new doctrine "asymmetric" and said the Islamic Republic will target the enemy in a way that makes the severity of its response clear. His remarks on the offensive nature of this doctrine were not consistent with the IRGC's initial account, and no explanation was given for the contradiction.

A wave of threats from military officials

Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman for the Islamic Republic's armed forces, addressed Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu with insulting terms in a statement the same day. A senior Islamic Republic security official, whose name was not given, also told the regime's English-language channel that Tehran is ready for all-out war and will respond "without limits" to any new attack or assassination. Amir Hossein Sabeti, a member of parliament, also called for "fighting harder" and said the Islamic Republic has kept the Strait of Hormuz closed for nearly nine months.

Against what threat

These remarks came at the same time as a speech by Benjamin Netanyahu in Dimona in which he called toppling the Islamic Republic the only way to end the threat. It had also been reported earlier that the US military is considering using the GBU-43 bomb, known as the "Mother of All Bombs", against the Islamic Republic's energy and nuclear facilities if the war resumes. Donald Trump has said he will not attack Iran before the 3 November midterm elections.

The IRGC's new remarks come as the Islamic Republic's attacks in the Strait of Hormuz on commercial ships have provoked reactions from countries in the region.

Amid fears of a resumption of war, the IRGC is talking about attack instead of defence.