Iran’s supreme leader orders army to respond at once to any attack, without geographic limits

TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday directed the armed forces that any new attack must be met with an immediate and effective response not bound by any geographic limit. The directive comes as mediators try to prevent a new war between Iran and the United States.

According to a statement from the Supreme Leader’s office, he gave “important strategic directives” at a meeting with senior military commanders. The statement said Iran would decide the timing and terms for ending any new attack. It also said he ordered the target list to be updated so that American and Israeli assets would come within Iran’s reach.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the letter from US Vice President JD Vance, which Iran has reviewed, a “positive step” towards opening negotiations. He said Iran did not rule out the possibility of war and was ready for every scenario. He acknowledged economic pressure but said Iran would not bow.

Araghchi said his deputy was in Qatar, where Qatari and Pakistani mediators were consulting on Iran’s conditions. He described reports of an immediate meeting with US officials as media speculation and said no meeting was needed for now.

Iranian army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami Nia warned that if Trump launched a new adventure together with Israel, the war would engulf a much wider region.

According to Iranian officials, the United States attacked two fishing boats near Qeshm island on Saturday. Citing state broadcaster IRIB, a Hormozgan official said two fishermen went missing and one was injured.