Play store
Iran’s armed forces have warned the United States and Israel that any fresh military attack on the country would trigger an “unimaginable” retaliation, saying Tehran would determine the timing, scale and conditions for ending any renewed conflict.
Major General Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, issued the warning on Saturday (October 31), amid growing concerns over a possible resumption of hostilities between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance.
In a statement, Abdollahi said Iran was acting in accordance with the directives of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and had identified additional enemy targets and assets for potential strikes.
He warned that any new attack would not be met with a limited response and that the consequences would extend beyond geographical boundaries.
“The United States and Israel will face an unimaginable response, and we will be the ones to determine when this new war ends,” Abdollahi said.
He also rejected the possibility that Washington could launch a short but intense military operation and then bring the confrontation to an end on its own terms.
Abdollahi said Iran would not wait for an actual attack before taking action. Any indication of hostile movements by the US or Israel could prompt Tehran to decide when and how to launch a response.
He added that Iranian military observers were continuously monitoring US and Israeli movements and identifying potential targets accordingly.
The Iranian military chief further said the country’s armed forces were prepared to defend against attacks from land, sea or air.
The warning came after Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei instructed senior military commanders to respond immediately and effectively to any potential threat, without geographical restrictions.
In a message issued on Saturday following a meeting with senior military commanders, Khamenei called for maximum military preparedness and stronger deterrence capabilities.
He also directed the armed forces to update their target lists to include all tangible and intangible assets belonging to the United States and Israel.
Khamenei said that if Iran faced another military or terrorist attack, the country’s armed forces and people would determine the timing and conditions for ending the conflict.
### Diplomatic efforts continue
The military warnings came as diplomatic efforts continued to prevent another round of fighting.
A Qatari delegation held talks with Iranian officials in Tehran on Friday, while further diplomatic contacts were reported on Saturday.
Iran has also received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance, although the details of the communication and Tehran’s response remain unclear.
Meanwhile, reports in US media suggest Washington is considering a short but intense military operation against Iran, raising concerns about a wider regional escalation.
Iran has repeatedly warned that any renewed US-Israeli offensive could trigger retaliation against targets across the region.
