TEHRAN, Iran – The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has significantly escalated its rhetoric against the United States, warning of potential nuclear action and claiming one million fighters are ready for a ground invasion, following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026. This pronouncement, reported by Reuters and carried by Hindustan Times, marks a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S., signaling a definitive shift in Tehran's nuclear policy under heightened hardline influence.
The stark warnings emerge amid a turbulent period in Iran, sparked by a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, that commenced on February 28, 2026. These large-scale strikes targeted Iranian military assets and leadership, directly resulting in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His passing has ushered in a new era of profound uncertainty, with the IRGC consolidating considerable control over the nation's political and security institutions. Mojtaba Khamenei, Ali Khamenei's son, has been appointed as the new Supreme Leader, further solidifying the IRGC's ascendancy.
Under this new leadership, hardline factions within Iran are openly advocating for a re-evaluation of the country's long-standing public stance against nuclear weapons. IRGC-affiliated state media, such as Tasnim News Agency, have published articles urging Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) "as soon as feasible" while maintaining a civilian nuclear program. This represents a significant departure from previous assurances, including Khamenei's fatwa against nuclear arms, which is now being questioned by senior figures.
The claim of "one million fighters" ready to respond to any American ground invasion was initially reported by Reuters and subsequently echoed by Iranian state media. These forces are purportedly on standby to defend against any U.S. operation aimed at reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit choke point that Iran has effectively closed, leading to global energy shocks. The Pentagon has already ordered approximately 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, augmenting roughly 4,500 Marines already en route to the region, underscoring the severity of the standoff.
The ongoing conflict, nearly a month old, has seen Iran retaliate for the U.S.-Israeli strikes by launching its own missile and drone attacks against U.S. bases, Israel, and allied Gulf states. The intensity of these exchanges has resulted in extensive damage across the region, claiming thousands of lives, including over 2,000 in Iran, Lebanon, and Israel. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed in the conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump has adopted a dual approach, threatening further military action, including targeting Iran's energy infrastructure and potentially taking control of its oil reserves. Simultaneously, the U.S. has engaged in indirect nuclear negotiations, presenting a "15-point action list" for a ceasefire. However, Iran has reportedly rejected this proposal, demanding the closure of all U.S. bases in the Gulf, reparations, and an end to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
While the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated in January 2026 that there was no evidence of a structured nuclear weapons program in Iran at the time of the initial strikes, Iran's nuclear activities have expanded significantly since the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Iran has enriched uranium to levels nearing weapons-grade and deployed advanced centrifuges. U.S. intelligence assessed in November 2024 that while Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, its activities "better position it to produce" one if it chose. The current hardline push for nuclear weapons development and withdrawal from the NPT marks a substantial escalation in this long-running concern.
The immediate future hinges on the diplomatic efforts, currently at an impasse, and the reactions of both Washington and Tehran to the escalating rhetoric. U.S. President Trump has extended a deadline to avoid striking Iranian energy plants until April 6, citing ongoing talks. However, Iran has concurrently threatened to strike energy and water infrastructure across the Persian Gulf if its own power plants are attacked, raising fears of catastrophic regional disruption. The international community watches anxiously as the IRGC's increased dominance and explicit nuclear ambitions threaten to destabilize an already volatile Middle East further, with the potential for widespread consequences for global security and energy markets.
ISN MEDIA
