In a pointed warning aimed at Washington and Tel Aviv, Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has cautioned the United States and Israel against a return to war, according to a written statement issued after renewed talk of possible strikes.
“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,” said a statement attributed to Mr Khamenei posted on his website.
The message was issued after what was described as a meeting between Mr Khamenei and top military leaders, 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 them.
Mr Khamenei has not been publicly seen since he became supreme leader, following his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing in US-Israeli strikes at the start of the Middle East war in February.
In the statement, he instructed commanders to ensure that “any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response”.
The statement also said he directed the military to expand and revise Iran’s target list to include “all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the American-Zionist enemy”.
The war began on 28 February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to quickly retaliate with attacks on countries around the region.
Mr Khamenei’s statement was released as new diplomatic moves were being reported in an effort to prevent fighting from flaring up again.
A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran yesterday for talks with Iranian officials, after Iran reportedly received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance.
According to Iranian media, Tehran had yet to respond to the letter.
