Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, told the country’s three top military commanders that a new attack by the United States and Israel “must result in an immediate and effective response, without geographic limits,” in order to achieve “maximum deterrence,” according to a statement from his office.
Why it’s important: This is the first publicized meeting between Khamenei and all senior commanders of the Iranian armed forces since the start of the war. This comes as President Trump considers major strikes against Iran after the midterm elections.
- Khamenei has not been seen or heard from in public since he was wounded in an Israeli strike on the first day of the war. He has only released written statements that have raised questions about his condition.
- Unusual appearance The meeting came a day after Qatari mediators held talks in Tehran for more than 12 hours in an effort to reach an agreement to restart direct negotiations between the United States and Iran and avoid the outbreak of war after the midterms.
- Discussions continued on Saturday in Doha, Qatar.
What he says: “If the enemies launch military or terrorist attacks again, it will be the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iranian nation that will determine when and under what conditions these hostilities will end,” Khamenei told the commanders, according to the statement.
Zoom: According to the statement, the meeting included the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, General Ali Abdollahi, the Commander of the Army, Major General Amir Hatami, and the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Ahmad Vahidi.
- The commanders briefed Khamenei on military readiness along the Gulf Coast and around the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and Iran’s northwest and southeast borders.
- They also reported “a several-fold increase” in the production of various types of munitions and reconnaissance, support and combat weapons.
- Khamenei asked the commanders that the “target bank” must be updated “so that all types of material and immaterial assets of the American-Zionist enemy fall within the reach of the armed forces.”
- Khamenei praised the “intelligent firmness” of Iranian proxies in the region and highlighted the “unity of different arenas” as a “decisive and strategic” element for Iran.
Reality check: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that senior officials discussed a proposal from Vice President Vance and called U.S. efforts to open negotiations a “positive step.”
- But he made a tough set of demands for a deal: lifting sanctions, reducing the U.S. military presence in the region and recognizing an agreed Strait of Hormuz sea route with Oman.
- Araghchi also told Al Jazeera that reopening the strait on Iranian terms could pave the way for direct negotiations. Iran considers mediators’ proposals on its nuclear program, a key issue for the United States
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