Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei orders a 'geographically unrestricted response' if the US or Israel strike again
The written statement, his first reported meeting with the top military commanders, came as Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran and Pakistan said it was cautiously optimistic about talks.
Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned the United States and Israel against resuming the war, ordering his commanders to answer any new attack with an "immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response", according to a written statement on his website on Saturday reported by AFP and Business Recorder.
"If the enemies once again launch military or terrorist attacks," the statement said, Iran "will determine the time and conditions for ending them."
He also ordered Iran's target list updated to include "all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the American-Zionist enemy".
The meeting
The statement followed what is described as Khamenei's first reported meeting with the country's top commanders: armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi, army chief Amir Hatami and Revolutionary Guards commander Ahmad Vahidi. Khamenei has not appeared in public since he succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes at the start of the war on 28 February.
Diplomacy under way
The warning comes during an active round of mediation:
- A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks.
- Iranian media reported that Tehran received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance and has not yet replied.
- In Rawalpindi, the military spokesman said Pakistan was "cautiously optimistic" about Iran-US mediation after the Field Marshal's two trips to Tehran.
The remarks followed threats from Iran's opponents that strikes could resume.
What it means for Pakistan
Pakistan shares a 900-kilometre border with Iran, is one of the mediators and imports most of its oil. Any return to fighting would hit oil prices and therefore what Pakistanis pay at the pump. Petrol is currently Rs 377.91 a litre after the latest review, held only by a levy cut; our petrol price page tracks every change, and the fuel cost calculator shows what a rise would mean for your monthly bill.
Millions of Pakistanis also work in the Gulf, where Iran hit back at countries around the region earlier in the war, which is why the outcome of the talks matters to families here.
Related
Sources
More in World
World
Gen Z protests reach Germany: 160,000 expected in 34 cities on Halloween
Young Germans march against living costs, poor schools and compulsory military service, as police warn extremists may try to hijack the rallies.
6h ago
Reader comments 0
No comments yet. Say something useful.