Baqaei warns Iran’s adversaries of an ‘apocalyptic war’
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei warned Iran’s adversaries of an “apocalyptic war.” The threat echoes Tehran’s longstanding deterrence strategy amid a military and economic power imbalance with the United States and Israel.
AI-assisted synthesis · Based on 4 outlets' reporting · Article text read from 1 of 4 outletsHow it's made
View timeline · 9 entriesWhat happened
Key facts
- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei warned Iran’s adversaries of an “apocalyptic war.”
- The warning was reported by Nour News and The Hindu.
- Iran’s deterrence strategy combines conventional forces with missiles, drones, maritime capabilities and relationships with armed groups in the region.
- Iran faces a substantial military and economic power imbalance with the United States and Israel.
- Iranian officials have argued that the prospect of imposing costs on an attacker helps deter an attack.
The brief
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei warned that any action against Iran would carry a cost, and said energy markets would not stabilize for three years. The Hindu’s headline characterized the warning as one of an “apocalyptic war” if Iran were attacked again. NewsBytes likewise described an Iranian warning to the United States and Israel, using the phrases “apocalyptic war” and “absolute victory.”
Nour News reported that Baqaei cautioned Iran’s adversaries against underestimating the country’s defensive capabilities. It said he also warned that an attack on Iran would bring costs, while forecasting that energy markets would take three years to stabilize. These statements were presented as warnings and a forecast; the account did not report that a new attack had occurred. The same outlet said Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei had warned that any action against Iran would carry a cost. Rezaei said Tehran had not used all its capabilities and was ready for the next phase of war. His remarks signaled readiness, but the account did not describe a specific military operation or give a timetable for one. Nour News also reported that Baqaei invoked a passage from History of Beyhaqi. In the passage as summarized by the outlet, attackers wrongly assumed they could take a fortress easily and did not know it was defended by “lions.” Baqaei used the reference while warning against underestimating Iran’s defenses. The outlet placed the warnings alongside a reported rise in oil prices above $115 a barrel, a slump in gold, and what it described as increased threats against Iran from Washington and Tel Aviv. It said those developments raised the prospect of renewed military hostilities. It did not identify a specific threat or report a new strike. Nour News referred to the 12-day and 40-day wars, saying their experience suggested military threats could carry heavy costs for aggressors. The account did not provide further details about those conflicts. The Atlantic’s headline referred to “Trump’s Gamble to End the Iran War,” but supplied no additional details about the warning or its context.
Why it matters
- The warning signals that Tehran may broaden or intensify its response if the United States or Israel launches further strikes, raising the risk of additional damage to infrastructure and civilian services. Baqaei’s three-year forecast for energy-market instability could also influence fuel costs and planning for import-dependent countries, though it is a prediction rather than a confirmed outcome.
What to watch next
- Whether Baqaei or Rezaei makes a further specific statement about the costs or capabilities they described.
- Whether the threats from Washington and Tel Aviv that Nour News described are followed by a specific action.
- Whether energy markets meet Baqaei’s forecast that they would not stabilize for three years.
How it's being covered
Coverage analysisShow details4 source articles · 4 unique outletsOutlet political mix: Mixed· 1 Left · 2 Center · 1 RightWhere the outlets are based: US/Canada 50% · Middle East 25% · Other 25%
One source is from a wire service (AP, Reuters, AFP or Bloomberg), whose reporting other outlets often republish.
How outlets' accounts compare
Timeline
Developments from this story's sources, dated background we compiled and fact-checked, and our earlier coverage. Each row says which.- Iran signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
- Iran ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
- Iranian students seized the US embassy in Tehran.Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
- Iraq invaded Iran, beginning the Iran–Iraq War.Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
- Iran and world powers agreed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
- The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions; Iran later exceeded several of the agreement’s nuclear limits.Background · from our historical context
- Direct attacks between Iran and Israel in 2024 made that deterrence contest more visible.Background · from our historical context
- Iran launched missiles at Israel.Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
- Israel struck Iranian military targets.Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
How we got here
Iran’s warnings draw on a long-standing strategy of deterrence that combines conventional forces with missiles, drones, maritime capabilities and relationships with armed groups in the region.
The Islamic Republic has faced a substantial military and economic power imbalance with the United States and Israel, and Iranian officials have often argued that the prospect of imposing costs on an attacker is central to preventing one.
Original sources
4 articles from 4 outletsEvery story links to the reporting it was built from. How we choose sources
Spotted a factual error, a broken link or a misleading summary? Tell us.