TEHRAN (The Thursday Times) — Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday ordered the country’s top military commanders to meet any US or Israeli attack with a “geographically unrestricted response”, as Washington weighs renewed strikes and mediators race to revive talks.
“Any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response,” Khamenei said, according to a written statement on his website after the meeting. He said Iran would decide the timing and conditions for ending any renewed military or “terrorist attacks by its enemies”, and ordered the military target list updated to bring US and Israeli “physical and non-physical” assets within reach of Iranian forces.
The army reinforced the warning. “If the US president once again embarks on more regional adventurism under pressure from, and in an attempt to appease, the Zionists, the flames of war will undoubtedly engulf a much wider geographical area,” army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said on X. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran’s armed forces would “deal against those who dare harm our people”.
The threats come three days before US midterm elections that could shape President Donald Trump’s decision on a major new strike on Iran. A Qatari delegation held talks in Tehran on Friday, and Iran has confirmed receiving a letter from Vice President JD Vance to security chief Mohsen Rezaei proposing a framework for negotiations, but has not announced a response. Qatar and Pakistan have been mediating between the two sides; Pakistan’s military spokesman said this week Islamabad was “cautiously optimistic”.
The war began in late February with US-Israeli strikes that killed Khamenei’s father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and senior commanders. Iran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz since, while the US has blockaded Iranian ports.
