Khamenei's Stark Warning: Iran Vows "Geographically Unrestricted" Retaliation if the US and Israel Strike Again

TEHRAN — Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued his sternest warning since the war broke out in February 2026. In a meeting with his top military commanders, he ordered Iran's armed forces to prepare an "immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted" response to any new attack by the United States and Israel.

This is the first time since the war erupted that a meeting between Khamenei and his entire military leadership has been announced publicly, according to an Axios report cited by Seoul Economic Daily on 31 October 2026.

## The Contents of the Order

At the meeting, Khamenei met with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Ali Abdollahi, Army Commander Amir Hatami, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Ahmad Vahidi.

"If the enemies once again carry out military and terrorist attacks, then it is the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iranian people who will determine when and under what conditions the hostility ends," Khamenei said in a statement published by his office.

He ordered the commanders to "update the target list so that all types of material and non-material assets of the US-Zionist [Israeli] side fall within the reach of the armed forces."

The phrase "material and non-material assets" caught analysts' attention: the language opens the door to asymmetric attacks — against data centres, AI systems, undersea cables, and ships in the Strait of Hormuz — following a series of maritime incidents and mine attacks on tankers in recent months.

## Reported Rise in Military Readiness

The commanders reported to Khamenei on military readiness along the Persian Gulf coast, the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman region, and border areas. According to the statement, weapons production and ammunition stocks have increased "severalfold."

Khamenei also ordered the strengthening of military intelligence and the development of domestic defence capabilities, and called for reinforcing the "jihad spirit" among the troops, according to Iranian news agency Tasnim.

Khamenei, 56, communicates through written messages — including Saturday's statement — without appearing in public since the war began. He succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed along with several senior officers in the opening US-Israeli campaign on 28 February 2026.

## Trump's New Threat

Khamenei's warning came just after US President Donald Trump on 31 October renewed his threat to strike Iran. Trump said US forces still had one or two targets "to finish," including Pickaxe Mountain — an underground site where US officials say Tehran moved thousands of centrifuges.

The threat emerged amid an increasingly heated context: the impact of the Israeli election that has put Benjamin Netanyahu back in the lead, and ahead of the US midterm elections on Tuesday, 3 November 2026.

## The Strait of Hormuz and Qatar Diplomacy

Even as military threats mount, the diplomatic channel is not closed. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened in two days — not seven — if his country's conditions are accepted, following a suggestion from Qatar acting as mediator.

Qatar has sent a mediator to Tehran, and the United States conveyed a letter from Vice President JD Vance that was seen as a "good sign" by Iran's security chief, although it has not been officially answered by Tehran.

A Pakistan-bound cargo ship was reportedly targeted near the Strait of Hormuz, adding to tensions on the shipping lane that carries much of the world's oil.

## Global Risks

Khamenei's statement and Trump's threat place the region — and global energy markets — on high alert. US and Israeli officials say no decision has been made on new strikes, while Trump has openly suggested limited action against the remnants of certain sites.

For civilians in Iran, the statements paint a tense picture of readiness for a new conflict — seven months after the devastating war began on 28 February 2026 with a US-Israeli attack on Iran, answered by Tehran across the region.