The warning was contained in a written statement attributed to Khamenei and published on his official website on Saturday, amid growing concerns over the possibility of a resumption of hostilities.
“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 said.
The remarks were reportedly issued during a meeting with senior Iranian military commanders, including the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Ali Abdollahi; Army Chief, Amir Hatami; and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, Ahmad Vahidi.
The meeting was described as Khamenei’s first reported engagement with the senior military leadership since he assumed the position of supreme leader.
Khamenei has not appeared publicly since succeeding his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes at the beginning of the Middle East conflict in February.
According to the statement, the Iranian leader directed the military commanders to remain prepared to respond immediately to any fresh security threat.
“Any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response,” the statement declared.
Khamenei also reportedly instructed the military leadership to update Iran’s list of potential targets to include “all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the American-Zionist enemy”.
The conflict began on February 28 with military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran. Tehran subsequently retaliated with attacks on targets in several countries across the region, widening tensions across the Middle East.
The latest warning comes as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent another escalation of the conflict.
A Qatari delegation reportedly arrived in Tehran on Friday, October 30, for discussions with Iranian officials as part of ongoing diplomatic engagements aimed at addressing the crisis.
The visit followed reports that Iran had received a letter from US Vice-President JD Vance. However, Iranian media reports indicated that Tehran had yet to issue a response to the communication.
The diplomatic contacts suggest that efforts to prevent renewed fighting are continuing despite the increasingly firm rhetoric from Tehran.
Khamenei’s latest statement underscores Iran’s position that any future military confrontation would attract an immediate response, while leaving the outcome and terms of a possible end to hostilities to the Iranian leadership.
