Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordered military commanders to prepare an unrestricted response to fresh attacks while mediators held high-level talks in Doha and Tehran.
Regional conflict began with US and Israeli strikes on February 28. That offensive killed long-time Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a meeting with senior military brass on Saturday, the new Supreme Leader ordered the armed forces to update their target databases. State-aligned outlets Mehr News Agency and Tasnim reported that all material and immaterial assets of the United States and Israel remain within potential reach.
Iran Orders Unrestricted Military Readiness
The Commander-in-Chief emphasized intelligent combat readiness during the briefing with Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and army leadership. State media reported that the directives instruct the armed forces to meet any hostile act with an immediate and effective response without geographical limitations. Leadership asserted that Iran and its armed forces will dictate the timing and conditions for ending the confrontation if enemies resume military or terrorist strikes.
Should Iran’s enemies resume military or terrorist attacks, it will be the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation that will determine when and under what conditions those attacks will end.
Every level and type of threat must be met with an immediate, effective, and geographically unrestricted response.
Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, Supreme Leader and Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces, via Mehr News Agency
Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia echoed the warnings on X, as reported by Al Jazeera. He cautioned against fresh regional adventurism under pressure from Israel and warned that the flames of war would engulf a much wider geography if hostilities resume. Military leadership presented reports on high readiness along the Persian Gulf coast, the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman, and the country’s borders.
Diplomats Pursue Talks in Doha
Qatari mediators concluded 12 hours of negotiations with Iranian officials in Tehran before moving discussions to Doha. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran had reviewed a letter sent by US Vice President JD Vance to Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaee. Araghchi described the American effort to open dialogue as a positive step, though he emphasized that direct talks were not currently planned until Washington agreed to Iranian conditions.
During the meeting with senior commanders of Iran’s Armed Forces, the Commander-in-Chief emphasized that intelligent combat readiness for a powerful confrontation with enemies is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving maximum deterrence.
Among Tehran’s demands in the ongoing talks are the lifting of maritime blockades, the restoration of oil waivers, the release of frozen funds held abroad including in Qatar, and a reduction of US troops in the region. Araghchi told Al Jazeera that Iran proposed accelerating its earlier reopening plan for the Strait of Hormuz to a two-day timeline, provided those conditions are met.
Leaders Clash Over Regional Stances
At a security forum in Bahrain, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stressed the urgent need to prevent another escalation. Abdelatty warned that a second round of conflict would prove extremely destructive and lead nowhere. Concurrently, US President Donald Trump stated that Washington is in no hurry to end its war with Iran, characterizing the conflict as ‘not a typical war’.
Press reports indicate that the US and Israel have drawn up joint plans to attack Iran after the November 3 US midterm elections. Neither side has confirmed whether direct delegations will meet in Doha to finalize an agreement.
🇺🇲🇮🇷 The next round with Iran may be MUCH CLOSER than it looks.Gulf governments have been warned to prepare for possible U.S. strikes shortly after the November 3 midterms, while Qatar is trying to stop things from getting there.Its mediators spent more than 12 hours in… pic.twitter.com/bl6IPXzgej
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🚨🇮🇷🇺🇸Iran's supreme leader orders "maximum" response to any U.S. attack. My report on @axios https://t.co/4Ga9uJQyLz