Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a stern warning to the United States and Israel on Saturday, October 31, 2026, ordering Iran’s armed forces to deliver an “unrestricted” military response to any fresh aggression or military strikes.
In his first reported meeting with senior military commanders since assuming the supreme leadership, a statement published on Khamenei’s official portal declared that Tehran—not foreign powers—would dictate the terms of any renewed conflict:
”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.”
Khamenei instructed military commanders to prepare for immediate counter-strikes and ordered an update to Iran’s retaliatory targets to encompass “all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the American-Zionist enemy.”
Tehran Outlines Terms for Resuming Talks
The escalatory rhetoric follows diplomatic communications between Washington and Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed on Saturday that Iranian leadership had evaluated a message conveyed by US Vice President JD Vance.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Araqchi outlined Tehran’s key prerequisites for re-entering formal negotiations:
- Sanctions & Force Reduction: Immediate removal of sanctions imposed following the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a substantial reduction of US military footprint in the Middle East.
- Strait of Hormuz: Reopening the strategic waterway under Tehran’s terms, which Iran asserts will clear the path for bilateral diplomatic engagement.
Trump Signals Potential Military Action
Tensions across the region remain high following joint US-Israeli military strikes on Iran initiated on February 28, 2026, which severely disrupted global maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking during an interview with Kansas City’s KCMO Talk Radio on Friday, US President Donald Trump stated he expected hostilities to “get wrapped up soon,” reiterating Washington’s core demand that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons.
However, speaking to reporters after casting his early ballot in Florida, President Trump left open the possibility of renewed military bombardment:
”Do you really think I would tell you that? Maybe tomorrow… There’s a possibility I will. There’s also a possibility we’ll have a nice, big, beautiful agreement.”
