Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned the United States and Israel against returning to war, according to a written statement, during a reported meeting with senior military commanders. The warning comes as diplomatic efforts to avert a resumption of fighting are under way; a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran yesterday, after Iran reportedly received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance.
Mojtaba Khamenei, who became supreme leader after his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes at the start of the Middle East war in February, held his first reported meeting with senior commanders. Those present included armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi, army chief Amir Hatami and Revolutionary Guards commander Ahmad Vahidi.
According to a statement on his website, Khamenei said: "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." He ordered the commanders to ensure that "any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response" and to update Iran's target list to include "all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the American-Zionist enemy."
The war began on 28 February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which swiftly responded with attacks on countries around the region. Khamenei has not been publicly seen since he became supreme leader.
The supreme leader's statement came as a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran yesterday for talks with Iranian officials, after Iran reportedly received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance. According to Iranian media, Tehran had yet to respond.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The warning signals Iran's readiness to respond to any new strikes, potentially escalating conflict as diplomatic efforts continue.
- Diplomatic moves, including Qatar's mediation and the US letter, highlight high-level attempts to prevent a resumption of fighting.
- The order to target "intangible assets" suggests Iran may broaden the scope of any future retaliation.
Background
The Middle East war began on 28 February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which responded with attacks on countries around the region. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's longtime supreme leader, was killed in the initial strikes, and his son Mojtaba succeeded him. Since then, Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen publicly. The current statement marks his first reported warning to the US and Israel since assuming power.
What to Watch
- Whether Iran responds to Vice President Vance's letter.
- The outcome of the Qatari delegation's talks in Tehran.
- Any military moves by the US or Israel that could trigger Iran's promised response.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedIran’s supreme leader warned the US and Israel against returning to war.RTÉ News: “Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned the United States and Israel against returning to war, according to a written statement”
- SupportedA Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran after Iran reportedly received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance.RTÉ News: “A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran yesterday for talks with Iranian officials, after Iran reportedly received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance.”
- SupportedKhamenei’s warning was made in a written statement during a reported meeting with senior military commanders.RTÉ News: “The remarks came during a reported meeting between Mr Khamenei and senior military commanders”
- SupportedKhamenei said the armed forces and Iranian nation would determine when and how to end any renewed attacks.RTÉ News: “"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," said a statement attributed to Mr Khamenei posted on his website.”
- SupportedKhamenei ordered commanders to ensure any threat met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response.RTÉ News: “According to the statement, he ordered the commanders to ensure that "any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response".”
- SupportedKhamenei ordered Iran’s target list updated to include all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the American-Zionist enemy.RTÉ News: “It also said that he ordered the commanders to update Iran's target list to include "all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the American-Zionist enemy".”
- SupportedIranian media said Tehran had yet to respond to the letter.RTÉ News: “According to Iranian media, Tehran had yet to respond to the letter.”
- SupportedThe meeting was the first reported one between Khamenei and the senior commanders, including Ali Abdollahi, Amir Hatami and Ahmad Vahidi.RTÉ News: “The remarks came during a reported meeting between Mr Khamenei and senior military commanders, including armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi, army chief Amir Hatami and Revolutionary Guards commander Ahmad Vahidi. It was the first reported meeting between them.”
- SupportedKhamenei has not been publicly seen since becoming supreme leader.RTÉ News: “Mr Khamenei has not been publicly seen since he became supreme leader”
- SupportedKhamenei became supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in US-Israeli strikes at the start of the Middle East war in February.RTÉ News: “Mr Khamenei has not been publicly seen since he became supreme leader, following his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's killing in US-Israeli strikes at the start of the Middle East war in February.”
- SupportedThe war began on 28 February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which swiftly responded with attacks on countries around the region.RTÉ News: “The war began on 28 February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which swiftly responded with attacks on countries around the region.”
- SupportedFresh diplomatic efforts to avert a resumption of fighting were under way.RTÉ News: “The supreme leader's statement came as fresh diplomatic efforts were under way to avert a resumption of fighting.”