{"id":335781,"date":"2025-08-20T13:11:36","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T12:11:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=335781"},"modified":"2025-08-20T13:11:36","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T12:11:36","slug":"tehran-escalates-war-rhetoric-to-mask-decline-and-bolster-demoralized-forces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/terrorism-a-fundamentalism\/tehran-escalates-war-rhetoric-to-mask-decline-and-bolster-demoralized-forces\/","title":{"rendered":"Tehran Escalates War Rhetoric to Mask Decline and Bolster Demoralized Forces"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_328530\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-328530\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-328530\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iran-1979-revolution-march-haj-qassem-rocket-10022025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"567\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iran-1979-revolution-march-haj-qassem-rocket-10022025.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iran-1979-revolution-march-haj-qassem-rocket-10022025-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iran-1979-revolution-march-haj-qassem-rocket-10022025-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iran-1979-revolution-march-haj-qassem-rocket-10022025-741x420.jpg 741w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iran-1979-revolution-march-haj-qassem-rocket-10022025-150x85.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/iran-1979-revolution-march-haj-qassem-rocket-10022025-696x395.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-328530\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The &#8216;Haj Qasem&#8217; ballistic missile on display during the state-staged march on February 10, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"601\" data-end=\"624\"><em data-start=\"601\" data-end=\"624\"><strong data-start=\"602\" data-end=\"623\">Three-minute read<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"626\" data-end=\"977\">In recent days, Tehran is amplifying its war rhetoric in a calculated attempt to project strength amid mounting internal crises, deepening regional isolation, and growing public discontent over inflation and economic hardship. Feeling increasingly cornered, the clerical dictatorship has launched an aggressive campaign of threats and belligerence aimed at shoring up the morale of its increasingly demoralized forces.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"979\" data-end=\"1188\">Senior officials and state-aligned media now openly warn of war while boasting of missile capabilities and nuclear expansion. But behind the fiery statements lies a regime struggling to manage its decline.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1195\" data-end=\"1257\">Safavi Declares \u201cStage of War\u201d<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1259\" data-end=\"1524\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asriran.com\/fa\/news\/1086701\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yahya Rahim Safavi<\/a>, senior military adviser to the regime&#8217;s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, declared that Iran is effectively \u201cin a stage of war\u201d with the U.S. and Israel, urging an \u201coffensive strategy\u201d in diplomacy, media, missiles, drones, and cyber operations: \u201cWe are not in a ceasefire; we are in a stage of war. The best defense is attack.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Iran<\/a> News: Official Threatens Assassination of U.S. President Trump Amid Escalating Terror Rhetoric<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VXW2hNWo5u\">https:\/\/t.co\/VXW2hNWo5u<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/iran_policy\/status\/1948726107080909308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 25, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1969\" data-end=\"2037\">Kayhan Warns of \u201cAchilles\u2019 Heel\u201d \u2014 Growing Public Discontent<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2039\" data-end=\"2259\">The hardline daily Kayhan, overseen by Khamenei\u2019s office,\u00a0attempted to spin public sentiment by claiming that the recent 12-day conflict triggered widespread demands for more military spending. It asserted: While some segments of society once criticized military expenditures, during the 12-day war, demands for strengthening deterrence became a popular request.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2039\" data-end=\"2259\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kayhan.ir\/fa\/news\/316830\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kayhan even cited<\/a> \u201cunofficial polls\u201d alleging that over 60% of Iranians now support accelerating nuclear deterrence. But this narrative stands in stark contrast to reality. Across the country, protests over water shortages, blackouts, rising gas prices, and unpaid wages have highlighted mounting public anger over the regime\u2019s prioritization of regional adventurism over basic needs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2039\" data-end=\"2259\">Analysts argue that Kayhan\u2019s claims represent a deliberate effort to manufacture consent for increased militarization while the regime faces growing unrest at home and deepening economic collapse.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2776\" data-end=\"2837\">Missile Threats Reveal Regime\u2019s Anxiety, Not Strength<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2839\" data-end=\"3125\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toseeirani.ir\/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-65\/81447-%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%AD%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D9%87%DB%8C%D9%85\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amir Hayat-Moghaddam<\/a>, a member of the parliamentary security commission, issued some of the regime\u2019s most extreme threats yet, boasting that Iran could target Washington D.C., New York, and every European capital from naval platforms stationed 2,000 kilometers off U.S. shores: \u201cFrance, Germany, the U.K., and all of Europe are within range.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Iran<\/a>\u2019s Regime Struggles to Mask Post-War Weakness with Rhetoric and Repression<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ITcBED4e0M\">https:\/\/t.co\/ITcBED4e0M<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/iran_policy\/status\/1939040021484376490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 28, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"3197\" data-end=\"3522\">But behind the bravado lies deep insecurity. Military insiders acknowledge that Iran\u2019s forces have faced setbacks in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, undermining morale among rank-and-file IRGC units. Officials now resort to escalatory threats as a tool to project power externally and maintain cohesion internally.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"3529\" data-end=\"3594\">Tehran\u2019s Strategic Fears<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"3596\" data-end=\"3883\">Tehran\u2019s aggressive stance is further fueled by fears of strategic encirclement. The proposed Zangezur Corridor \u2014 a U.S.-backed transit route linking Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan through Armenia \u2014 would cut off Iran\u2019s land border with Armenia, tightening its isolation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"3885\" data-end=\"4235\">The pro-regime <a href=\"https:\/\/farhikhtegandaily.com\/page\/271532\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Farhikhtegan daily urged<\/a> adopting a \u201cQatar model\u201d of response, referencing the regime\u2019s July 2 missile strike on the U.S. al-Udeid airbase in Qatar during the 12-day war. But the strike, which Washington later dismissed as symbolic due to advance coordination, highlighted Tehran\u2019s limited capacity for real escalation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"4237\" data-end=\"4508\">Following the White House-brokered peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Tehran now fears that the U.S. will consolidate a strategic corridor undermining its influence in the South Caucasus \u2014 further feeding its paranoia and militaristic posture.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"4566\" data-end=\"5002\">The potential reinstatement of suspended UN sanctions through the snapback mechanism has added new urgency. While some officials downplay the consequences, Tehran-aligned outlets such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.didbaniran.ir\/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-3\/235798-%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%AB%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%B9%D8%B6%D9%88-%DA%A9%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%DB%8C%D9%84-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AF%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%84-%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%DA%A9%D8%B2-%D9%87%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%DA%A9%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%B4%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A7%DA%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%DB%8C%D9%84-%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87-%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%87-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%B4-%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4-%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AE-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D9%87%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%BE-%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%85%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%A7%D8%B8%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%B4-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A8%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%85%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%87-%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Didban-e Iran warn<\/a> the impact would be severe, restricting oil exports, cutting off global banking, and even placing Iran under Chapter VII of the UN Charter \u2014 a move that could justify international enforcement measures.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Khamenei\u2019s Strategic Losses in 2024:<br \/>Apr 1 &#8211; Senior <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/IRGC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#IRGC<\/a> commanders and Quds Force officials killed in Syria strike.<br \/>Jul 31 &#8211; Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Tehran.<br \/>Sep 17-18 &#8211; Pager and walkie-talkie explosions injured 3,000 and killed 40 Hezbollah commanders in\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ICd74GVLsG\">pic.twitter.com\/ICd74GVLsG<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/iran_policy\/status\/1874560228231934092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 1, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"5009\" data-end=\"5063\">Belligerence as a Symptom of Decline<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"5065\" data-end=\"5199\">The clerical dictatorship\u2019s heightened rhetoric reflects weakness, not strength. After years of overreach, the regime now faces:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"5201\" data-end=\"5446\">\n<li data-start=\"5201\" data-end=\"5251\">\n<p data-start=\"5203\" data-end=\"5251\">Strategic losses in Gaza, Syria, and Iraq.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5252\" data-end=\"5318\">\n<p data-start=\"5254\" data-end=\"5318\">Growing economic collapse and public anger over inflation.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5319\" data-end=\"5387\">\n<p data-start=\"5321\" data-end=\"5387\">Deepening isolation after U.S.-brokered regional agreements.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5388\" data-end=\"5446\">\n<p data-start=\"5390\" data-end=\"5446\">Eroding morale among IRGC and paramilitary forces.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"5448\" data-end=\"5719\">By threatening missiles, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/irans-regime-struggles-to-mask-post-war-weakness-with-rhetoric-and-repression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nuclear escalation<\/a>, and retaliation, Tehran aims to reassert control and mobilize its base, but these displays expose the regime\u2019s diminished leverage and internal fragility. The more its power erodes, the louder its threats grow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three-minute read In recent days, Tehran is amplifying its war rhetoric in a calculated attempt to project strength amid mounting internal crises, deepening regional isolation, and growing public discontent over [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":328530,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[287],"class_list":{"0":"post-335781","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-terrorism-a-fundamentalism","8":"tag-iran-terrorism"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tehran Escalates War Rhetoric to Mask Decline and Bolster Demoralized Forces - NCRI<\/title>\n<meta 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