Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered the country’s military commanders to meet any US or Israeli attack with an immediate and “geographically unrestricted response”, as speculation grows that the Middle East war could resume.
Khamenei met senior military officials on Saturday, according to a statement from his office.
“Any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response,” Khamenei said in a written statement published on his website.
The statement said he issued “strategic and important” directives during the meeting but gave no further information about the gathering. His office said details of the directives would be published in the coming hours.
Warning to Washington
In a separate statement posted on his Telegram channel, Khamenei warned the United States against launching fresh attacks.
“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,” the statement attributed to him said.
The statements did not cite a specific new threat. They come as speculation mounts that hostilities between Iran and its adversaries will restart.
The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran responded by targeting Israel and US positions in the region. The two sides later reached a ceasefire agreement in April, bringing the first phase of the fighting to a halt.
Efforts to reduce tensions have since faced setbacks. On June 18, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes. Implementation of the deal has stalled, however, because of disagreements over the security of the strait.
Khamenei’s latest remarks place responsibility for any future escalation on Iran’s adversaries, while stating that Iran’s armed forces and people will decide when and how any confrontation ends.
