Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned the United States and Israel against launching further attacks, saying any new military action would be met with an immediate response extending beyond the initial area of conflict. The warning was issued on Saturday, 31 October 2026, as concerns grew over a possible resumption of hostilities and indirect mediation continued through Qatar.
The statement came after remarks by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicating that further military action remained possible. Trump has warned of fresh strikes after the US midterm elections on 3 November 2026, while Netanyahu has described the situation as an opportunity to challenge the Iranian government. Israel held elections on Tuesday but had not yet formed a new government, according to the report.
Warning issued at meeting with military commanders
Khamenei delivered the warning during a reported meeting with senior Iranian military officials. Those present included Ali Abdollahi, armed forces chief of staff; Amir Hatami, army chief; and Ahmad Vahidi, Revolutionary Guards commander. It was described as the first reported meeting between Khamenei and the country’s military leadership since he took office.
“Any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response,”
The statement also said Khamenei had instructed commanders to revise Iran’s target list to cover “all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the American-Zionist enemy”. The wording indicates that Iran’s leadership is presenting any future response as potentially extending across a broad range of targets, although the statement did not identify specific locations or operations.
Diplomatic efforts continue through Qatar
The military warning came alongside diplomatic activity intended to prevent a return to open fighting. Iran’s top diplomat said there were no plans for direct talks with the United States, while Qatar continued its role as an indirect mediator. The report also said that US Vice President JD Vance had reportedly sent a letter to Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei.
- Iran’s position: any new threat would receive an immediate and geographically unrestricted response, according to Khamenei’s statement.
- US position: President Donald Trump has warned of possible new military action after the 3 November midterm elections.
- Diplomatic channel: Qatar is continuing indirect mediation between Washington and Tehran.
Iran has previously warned that it could consider severing undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the report. The waterway is a key route for international energy shipping, making any military escalation there a matter of wider regional and global security concern. The report did not say that such action had taken place.
The latest warning follows an earlier period of US-Israeli strikes that began in February, after which Iranian authorities restricted shipping through parts of the region, according to the report. While Iranian officials and military leaders have adopted an increasingly forceful posture, diplomatic contacts through Qatar remain active, leaving the possibility of further negotiations open despite Tehran’s statement that it does not currently plan to hold talks directly with Washington.
