US, Israel attempts to destabilise Iran from within, general says

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, stated that the United States and Israel have focused on creating instability within Iran following their defeat in the “12-day war” in June 2025.

Speaking at a ceremony on January 4, Mousavi claimed that Washington and the “Zionist regime” have shifted to “soft war” tactics, attempting to provoke unrest and compensate for their military setbacks. He also cited economic pressure as part of this strategy, per Iranian media.

"When the US and the Zionist regime were disappointed with the fruitless invasion in the imposed 12-day war and suffered a definite defeat, they put a plan on the agenda using soft war tools and economic pressure to create insecurity and riots in the country to compensate for their defeat," he explained more,” he explained.

According to the chief of staff, Iran’s enemies allegedly exploited legitimate protests by some businesspeople, related to the rial exchange rate and business conditions, to insert “trained provocateurs” and destabilise the situation through psychological and information operations.

Mousavi emphasised, however, that Iranian society has, in his view, distinguished between genuine protesters and instigators of unrest and has not supported violent actions.

“The Law Enforcement will foil the rioters' plots with the help of the people, and Iranians will use their revolutionary behaviour to punish those who do not speak politely to this nation,” Mousavi stated.

By Khagan Isayev