Top adviser to Iran's Revolutionary Guard leader sits down for rare interview
As the war with Iran continues its uneasy stalemate, we're hearing from a top adviser to the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the force largely responsible for border and internal security. The IRGC rarely gives interviews, and almost never to Western media. But Mohammad Reza Naqdi sat down in Tehran for an exclusive interview with special correspondent Reza Sayah.
The U.S. and several other nations have labeled Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. The IRGC is known for its reluctance to grant interviews, particularly to Western media outlets. However, Commander Mohammad Reza Naqdi, the top adviser to the IRGC commander-in-chief, granted an exclusive interview to special correspondent Reza Sayah in Tehran.
Commander Naqdi explained that the IRGC had never given interviews to American media before due to their policy of not speaking to the West. However, they agreed to sit down with Sayah this time because they wished their voices to be heard by Western nations. They believed that their actions were not indefensible and aligned with the values of humanity.
Naqdi stated that Iran was victorious in the war, despite the U.S. changing their objectives frequently. He predicted that Iran would continue to win as the conflict progressed, gaining valuable experience and showcasing the U.S. military's weaknesses.
Regarding the attacks on non-military ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Naqdi claimed that Iran's actions were justified as they aimed to control the waterway to prevent the passage of supplies for their enemies. He also defended their use of missiles and drones, stating that their number far exceeded any reported count. Naqdi emphasized that even if Iran had no missiles left, they would remain dangerous to the U.S. due to their vast economic interests worldwide.
Lastly, Naqdi refused to speculate on the intentions of U.S. military officer Pete Hegseth, stating that he would not put himself in Hegseth's shoes.
Written by urgent.news from PBS NewsHour's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
