Geoff Bennett:
As the war with Iran continues its uneasy stalemate, we hear now from a top adviser to the overall commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the force largely responsible for border and internal security.
The U.S. and many other nations have designated it a terrorist organization. The IRGC, as it’s known, rarely give interviews and almost never to Western media.
But Commander Mohammad Reza Naqdi sat down this morning in Tehran for an exclusive interview with special correspondent Reza Sayah.
Reza Sayah:
Commander Naqdi, thank you very much for sitting down with us.
It has been a long-running policy of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to never speak to American media. What changed? Why did you agree to sit with us?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi, Supreme Adviser to IRGC Commander in Chief (through interpreter): In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful, we never received a request to reject it.
We would like for our voice to reach the ears of people in Western countries. It’s Western media that don’t like our voice to be heard. There’s nothing we do that’s indefensible and outside the values of humanity that we would want to cover up or not discuss.
Reza Sayah:
Let’s talk about this war. Where do you see Iran in this juncture of the war? Do you see yourself as winning? Are you in control?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
Certainly, victory is on our side, after the defeat of America’s two main objectives, the toppling of the leadership and the breaking up of Iran.
We saw confusion and bewilderment in America. It became a war without a strategy. Every two or three days, they announced a new objective. For several nights, they said they want to invade Kharg Island. They said they want to open the Strait of Hormuz. They mobilized their battleships. Everything they tried, we can show how we were victorious.
Reza Sayah:
In your view, is it inevitable that Iran has won?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
No, we have not yet reached our final objective. This is clear. Up until now, we are victorious. In the future, we will continue to be victorious.
The longer this war lasts, the more experience we gain. We had never seen a real war to gain real experience to learn how to fight with America. In these five months, we have learned how. We have also seen how the American military is weaker than what we perceived.
Reza Sayah:
Is it Iran’s objective to drag out this war, to maybe wait until Mr. Trump is out of office?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
Look, we have to attain deterrence so that the enemy never dares to attack us, so we can live with security. One way is to prolong this war until we get to the next term of the presidency and cause attrition, so that if anyone else wants to attack Iran, they will know there is a cost.
Reza Sayah:
This week, on at least two occasions, maybe more, Iranian forces attacked non=military ships that were trying to cross through the Strait of Hormuz.
What is Iran’s objective in attacking civilian ships?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
When we are at war, vessels need to pass through a region we can control. When they leave an area that we control, it could be that they’re transporting supplies for the enemy.
Reza Sayah:
Do you not see that as a violation of international law, attacking civilian ships?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
When you’re in a state of war, any thoroughfare deemed to be a threat, we can control it. This is international law. Anywhere in the world where there is war, this law exists.
Reza Sayah:
One of your most effective weapons in this war has been your missiles and your drones. Reports said before the war you had about 3,000 to 4,000 missiles. How many missiles do you have in your stockpile right now?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
First of all, we are not reliant on missiles and drones. If we are victorious, we relied on our faith to be victorious. God is with us.
As for our missiles, the Americans and the Zionists always want to count our missiles. First of all, the number of missiles we manufacture every day is more than the number we launch. In a country this vast, we can make them wherever we want.
Reza Sayah:
Where are you making them? Is it deep underground?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
We do it in different ways. We have various ways to manufacture them securely. Rest assured, even if this war lasts for years, until the last day, Iran’s rockets will be launched.
I will make this point, and this is more important than missiles. If there comes a day when Iran has no more missiles left, that’s when we will be even more dangerous for America.
Reza Sayah:
How would you be more dangerous?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
Because America has thousands of economic interests throughout the world, and all of them can be easily destroyed.
Reza Sayah:
Military officers often put themselves in the place of their rivals and the enemy to maybe predict what they’re going to do. Put yourself in Pete Hegseth’s place. What is he thinking? What is your prediction as to what he might do?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
I will never put myself in his place. He is a criminal who killed 168 innocent children. Not only do these people not work for the benefit of humanity. They don’t even work for America. They work for their own interests.
As soon as the stock market closes, they start hostilities. When the stock market opens, they send positive messages to raise stock prices. All the while, they are buying and selling the stocks themselves. If I was in the place of the American Congress, I would call for an investigative committee to compare the assets of Mr. Trump, his family, and his inner circle before the war to their assets after the war.
Reza Sayah:
Many observers say Iran has put up a strong fight, but that America has one weapon that Iran doesn’t, and that’s a nuclear bomb. In your view, how likely is it for America to use a nuclear bomb?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
Naturally, it can end up being a mistake for them. The morning after they use a bomb, all of America’s military bases around the world will be occupied. Today, things are different than World War II. The people of the world have awakened. No one in the world will allow for such a crime to be committed, because the next time it could be themselves.
Reza Sayah:
Washington has long claimed that Iran is a threat to Israel. Israel says Iran wants to build a bomb to destroy Israel. Does Iran want to destroy Israel?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
Iran has only one thing to say about occupied Palestine. And this is something our martyred leader has also said. The leadership there must be chosen based on a majority vote by the people who are connected to that land. This will certainly not be done with a nuclear bomb.
But we certainly prefer if the Zionist regime did not exist. Just like the previous South African regime, an apartheid and white supremacist regime that was discarded by the people, the same thing must happen in Palestine.
Reza Sayah:
Iranians are often seen shouting the slogan “Death to America.” And many American politicians point to that slogan and say Iran wants to destroy America.
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
Look, we have no enmity with the people of America.
Reza Sayah:
So what does that slogan mean?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
The meaning of “Death to America” means death to America’s leadership, a leadership that has invaded or violated more than 70 countries since becoming a superpower.
Reza Sayah:
Increasingly, many observers inside Iran and outside say that, if Iran had a nuclear weapon, America would not attack it, that it would be a deterrent.
Is the Revolutionary Guard, is Iran even discussing the possibility of pursuing a nuclear bomb?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
I will say this clearly. Our nuclear bomb is the hearts of the people of the world that we won fighting oppression. Islamic values and the divine values of the Islamic Revolution are taking over the world. There is no need for nuclear bombs. There is no need for slaughter.
Reza Sayah:
After the death of the late supreme leader, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed supreme leader. But during this war, he has never been seen in public. Can you tell us why?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
The strategy belongs to him. Our enemy is criminal and doesn’t abide by any law.
Reza Sayah:
So is it because of security reasons?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
Naturally, it is due to security. Certainly, there is no other reason.
Reza Sayah:
Have you seen him?
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
Let’s leave this matter alone.
Reza Sayah:
Commander Naqdi, thank you very much for your time.
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi (through interpreter):
You’re welcome. I too thank you.
Geoff Bennett:
We asked the White House about the specific comments Naqdi made in that interview.
They responded with a statement that reads in part, “It would be wise for Iran to agree to a deal,” adding, “Otherwise they know what will happen.”
