Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warns of unrestricted retaliation against US-Israeli attacks as Araghchi and Rubio signalled a possible diplomatic opening.
Photo : REUTERS
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday met with top military commanders and ordered them to meet any US or Israeli attack with a “geographically unrestricted response”. The remarks came amid rising concerns about a possible return to conflict and ongoing diplomatic efforts to avert a resumption of fighting.
The official IRNA news agency quoted Khamenei as saying that “any kind an
d level of threat” should face an immediate response. He said the forces should have combat readiness to confront their enemies and called for updating the target bank for the US and Israel. “Any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response,” the leader said, according to the statement published on his website.
Mojtaba Khamenei became supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes in February. Since then, he has not been seen in public and often communicates with Iranians through statements.
Iran Army Issues Stark Warning
Earlier today, Iran’s army warned Saturday that any new US attack would only spread the war wider, following threats by America and Israel of further military action as they hold crucial elections. “If the US president once again embarks on more regional adventurism under pressure from, and in an attempt to appease, the Zionists, the flames of war will undoubtedly engulf a much wider geographical area,” Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said in a post on X, without elaborating.
Hormuz Opening In 2 Days? No Direct Talk With US, Says Araghchi
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that said Tehran is prepared for all scenarios, including the possibility of another attack. He said there are currently no plans for meetings with US officials but described a letter from Vice President JD Vance seeking to open dialogue as a “positive step”.
He said that Tehran has carefully reviewed a letter, adding that whether negotiations will be direct or indirect would be decided “once Washington agrees to Iran’s conditions.”
Iran’s top diplomat says that a new proposal has been reached with mediators that would shorten the time to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to two days. Last month, Araghchi floated a proposal to reopen the critical waterway within a week if the U.S. agreed to lift its blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen Iranian assets and waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales, among other conditions, which was reportedly rejected by Washington.
