A top Iranian military commander has issued a stark warning to the United States, saying that any Iranian civilian killed in U.S. attacks would be met with the death of an American soldier. Major General Ali Abdollahi, who commands the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, Iran's highest military command, made the statement in remarks reported by the official Iranian news agency IRNA.
“The rule that we had already proved operational to the enemy is, from this moment, a definitive and officially declared equation of the battlefield: In return for the martyrdom of every proud citizen of Iran, one American soldier will be killed,” Abdollahi said, according to IRNA.
He also addressed U.S. forces directly, saying, “We have prepared free, direct tickets to hell for you.”
The comments come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. The Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters is a key military command responsible for coordinating Iran's armed forces, including the regular military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
There was no immediate response from U.S. officials to Abdollahi's remarks. The warning adds to the ongoing rhetoric between the two countries, which have been at odds over various issues including nuclear programs and regional influence.
The general's statement suggests a policy of proportional retaliation, though it remains unclear how such a threat would be carried out. The situation continues to be monitored by international observers concerned about potential escalation.