Tehran, October 31,2026: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned the United States and Israel against resuming military action against the Islamic Republic, saying Tehran’s armed forces would determine the timing and conditions for ending any new conflict.
“If the enemies once again launch military or terrorist attacks, it is the armed forces of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation that will determine the time and conditions for ending them,” Khamenei said in a written statement posted on his official website on Saturday.
The statement followed threats from Iran’s adversaries about a possible resumption of military strikes.
Khamenei reportedly made the remarks during a meeting with senior military commanders, including Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ali Abdollahi, Army Chief Amir Hatami and Revolutionary Guards Commander Ahmad Vahidi.
It was the first reported meeting between the supreme leader and the military commanders.
Khamenei has not appeared publicly since becoming supreme leader following the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli strikes at the beginning of the Middle East war in February.
According to the statement, Khamenei instructed the commanders to ensure that “any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response”.
He also ordered them to update Iran’s target list to include “all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the American-Zionist enemy”.
The war began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes against Iran, which swiftly retaliated with attacks on countries across the region.
Khamenei’s statement came as fresh diplomatic efforts were underway to prevent a resumption of hostilities.
A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks with Iranian officials after Iran reportedly received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance.
Iranian media reported that Tehran had yet to respond to the letter.
