New Delhi: Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, warned on Saturday that any renewed attack on the country will trigger an immediate military response, with no geographical limits. He has also instructed the armed forces to expand their list of potential targets to include American and Israeli assets.
The warning comes as diplomatic efforts over Iran’s nuclear programme continue. Khamenei said Iran would not allow its adversaries to determine the course or timing of a future confrontation.
In a message posted on his official Telegram channel, Khamenei outlined the instructions after a meeting with the country’s top military commanders. He called for stronger intelligence capabilities, greater reliance on domestically developed defence systems and the use of new technologies to improve military preparedness.
A key part of the directive concerns Iran’s potential targets in a future conflict. Khamenei asked commanders to review the existing military database so that a wider range of American and Israeli assets could be brought within the reach of Iranian forces.
He also linked military strength with public support and the country’s internal resilience. Praising the armed forces, police and Basij (Iran’s volunteer paramilitary force) units, he said their efforts, alongside public participation, were important for protecting Iran’s territorial integrity.
The meeting also provided an update on Iran’s military preparations. Senior commanders briefed Khamenei on security arrangements around the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, as well as along the country’s northwestern and southeastern borders. They also reported increased production of ammunition, surveillance equipment and combat weapons.
Separately, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran has no immediate plans to meet American officials. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he dismissed reports of a possible meeting as speculation and said negotiations would depend on Washington addressing Iran’s conditions.
Araghchi said mediators had submitted proposals concerning Iran’s nuclear programme and that Tehran was examining them. He also confirmed that an Iranian team had travelled to Qatar to continue discussions involving Qatari and Pakistani mediators.
He also called a letter from the US vice-president, JD Vance, seeking to open dialogue a positive step. But he cautioned that Washington would be making another mistake if its intention was to create divisions within Iran.