31st October 2026 – (Tehran) Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has directed the armed forces to answer any level of hostile action with an “immediate and effective” response unconstrained by geography, according to guidance released on Saturday. In a meeting with senior commanders, he ordered the update of a “targets bank” to ensure that both tangible and intangible assets linked to the United States and Israel remain within reach, and called for the strengthening of military information architecture alongside deeper indigenous development of doctrine and tactics. He further urged up‑to‑date defence and security capabilities through the adoption of new technologies as part of what he described as intelligent, maximum deterrence.
Iranian officials amplified the message through the day. Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia warned that any renewed US military action would widen the conflict regionally, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran’s armed forces would act against those who harm its people. Diplomatic contacts also continued, with a Qatari delegation arriving in Tehran for talks as mediation efforts persist. The Wall Street Journal reported that US Vice President JD Vance had sent a letter to Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei at the direction of President Donald Trump to revive negotiations and stave off further American strikes; Tehran has acknowledged receiving the message but has not disclosed a reply.
The latest statements come against the backdrop of intensifying regional tensions and overlapping political calendars in Washington and Jerusalem, where voters have recently gone to the polls amid debate over the direction of the conflict. After decades of shadow confrontation, Israel and Iran have engaged in direct exchanges this year, with the war’s scope repeatedly intersecting key maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz. I