Iranian Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia declared on 8 October 2026 that Tehran will carry out preemptive military operations whenever necessary to prevent any 'aggression by the enemy' — a signal that Iran's strategic posture has shifted decisively from defence to offence. The remarks, published in an interview with the semi-official Fars News Agency, represent some of the most direct articulations of Iran's revised military doctrine since the ceasefire earlier this year.

A Doctrine Shift: From Defence to Offence

Akraminia stated that Iran has formally changed its military doctrine from a defensive to an offensive orientation and has already applied it in its recent conflict with the United States and Israel. He cited a missile strike against a US base in Jordan in late July as a concrete example of the new approach in action, arguing that the strike was preemptive in nature and effectively 'wrested the initiative from them and left them unable to take any action.'

He stressed that preemptive operations remain 'legitimate' as long as they adhere to principles of necessity, urgency, and proportionality. Additional operations cited under the new doctrine include several missile and drone attacks against bases of counter-revolutionary and separatist groups in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

Missile Range and Precision: Iran's Next Military Build-Up

Akraminia revealed that Iran's Army has now formally decided to increase the range of its missiles, following lessons drawn from the recent war. 'In this war, we came to the conclusion that we must definitely increase the range of our missiles, and we have now embarked on that path,' he said.

He explained the rationale: the 'enemy' has repositioned its forces at distances of up to 1,000 kilometres from Iran's coastline, necessitating longer-range strike capabilities. Beyond range, Akraminia noted that Iran has already made significant gains in missile speed and precision, and that future generations of missiles will be both faster and more accurate.

No Ground Invasion, Iran Assesses

On the prospect of a US ground incursion into Iranian territory, Akraminia was unequivocal: 'My assessment is that the Americans will not dare launch a ground invasion.' The statement reflects Tehran's broader confidence in its deterrence posture, even as post-ceasefire negotiations with Washington remain stalled.

Background: War, Ceasefire, and a Stalled Peace Deal

The context for these statements is a conflict that erupted on 28 February, when Israel and the United States launched joint strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli and US assets across the region, while also tightening its grip on the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire came into effect on 8 April. On 18 June, Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end hostilities across all fronts, with negotiations on a final agreement scheduled to conclude by 17 August. Those talks failed to produce sufficient progress, and tensions have continued to escalate, leaving the region's security outlook deeply uncertain.

Akraminia's interview suggests that, far from winding down, Iran is accelerating its military modernisation — a posture that will weigh heavily on any renewed diplomatic effort.