Top Iran Commander: ‘We Welcome War With The United States’

A top commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) told a state-run media outlet on Wednesday that Iran is prepared to go to war with the United States and will even “welcome war” to show off Tehran’s power.

“We have prepared ourselves for the most dangerous scenarios and this is no big deal and is simple to digest for us,” said IRGC Lieutenant Commander General Hossein Salami. “We welcome war with the US as we do believe that it will be the scene for our success to display the real potentials of our power,” he added.

Salami’s remarks come as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently insisted that military action is still on the table for the Obama White House.

The Iranian general added: “We warn (US) pilots that their first flight (to attack Iran) will be their last one.” The IRGC commander continued, seemingly implying that Iran would violate the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. “No one will be allowed to go back safe and sound and they should call their flights as their last flight,” said Salami.

On Wednesday, Salami told a religious gathering that any military action against Iran would draw a unified response from the worldwide Muslim population, who would engage in holy war against the United States and its partners.

“When the arrogant powers grow united in different directions to weaken the Islamic community, we should use our different capacities to fight against the enemy, and the Islamic Iran has gained many experiences in fighting against the enemy so far,” Salami said at a ceremony in Qom, an Iranian city that is considered holy by Shiite Muslims. “War against Iran will mobilize the Muslim world against the US, an issue which is very well known by the enemy,” Salami added.

The Iranian general has been independently sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department, European Union, and the U.N. Security Council. He reportedly has a key role in advancing Iran’s ballistic missile program Iran Watch documented.