Iran warns attack would return region to 'stone age,' adds 'Don't be foolish'

The Iranian leadership escalated its deterrent rhetoric on Saturday afternoon, framing any potential military action by Israel or the United States as a catalyst for regional destruction. An official statement warned that Tehran is prepared to "return the entire region to the stone age" if struck, adding a direct admonition to its adversaries: "Don't be foolish."

Coordinated Rhetoric

This official warning followed a similar statement made less than two hours earlier by Ebrahim Rezaei, the spokesperson for Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission. Rezaei dismissed reports of advanced U.S.-Israeli strike planning as an "illusion" that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly conveyed to U.S. President Donald Trump. He specifically targeted the assessment that a rapid strike during a two-day market closure could force an Iranian surrender, characterizing such strategic thinking as a fundamental miscalculation.

Strategic Context

The threats come amid a period of heightened tension where the United States, under the second Trump administration, has maintained a "peace through strength" posture, including a naval siege and CENTCOM air campaigns. As The Zioneer reported earlier, Iran has previously threatened vital Israeli infrastructure and U.S. energy assets in the region, claiming to have a "comprehensive response plan" ready for implementation.

Analysis of the 'Stone Age' Threat

By using the "stone age" framing, Tehran is signaling that its response would not be limited to military targets but would likely encompass the region's critical energy and civilian infrastructure. This aligns with prior warnings from the Iranian army spokesperson, who stated in July that all regional infrastructure would become legitimate targets if Iranian facilities were struck. The repeated use of this specific phrase by both the official government channels and members of parliament suggests a coordinated messaging campaign intended to deter the joint strike planning currently being evaluated by Washington and Jerusalem.