Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, speaking to Revolutionary Guards in Mashhad, confidently stated that Iran is not afraid of Israel’s threats and technological superiority. He called on Revolutionary Guards not to succumb to pressure and not to fear possible attacks from Israel, which has more advanced defensive and offensive systems. However, as observers note, such statements reflect not so much confidence as tension and anxiety within Iran itself.
Ghalibaf, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, confirmed that Tehran is aware of the risks associated with Israel's growing military power. Recent airstrikes on Iranian targets have exposed the vulnerability of Iran's air defense system, including the Russian systems Iran previously acquired. In the wake of such developments, even Iran's partner groups, such as Hezbollah and Hamas, are beginning to question its strategy. These groups, experts say, have not only lost their former strength, but have also raised further doubts about Iran's ability to withstand outside pressure.
There are growing concerns in Iranian circles that Israel could strike Iran's nuclear facilities, which could spark a new wave of anti-government protests inside the country.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its volunteer Basij force are still suffering from the consequences of the suppression of protests in 2022, when the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement broke out. The Basij leadership, traumatized by the events of the year before last, is aware of the possible risks of a new mass suppression. Internal disagreements, according to experts, are connected with the fear of a repeat of the situation when soldiers refused to open fire on protesters, which was one of the reasons for the fall of the previous regime.