Iran’s Supreme Leader Orders Military to Prepare for Major War – Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered the country’s armed forces to prepare for an immediate and potentially far more devastating military response to planned U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iranian nuclear infrastructure. The Iranian leader has warned that Tehran will not limit its retaliation to the Middle East, as the regime attempts to prevent another round of strikes that could even target the country’s remaining leadership figures.
Khamenei issued the warning on Saturday, October 31, after meeting with the country’s three most senior military commanders. The news comes as President Donald Trump considers launching another round of major military strikes against Iran after the November 3 midterm elections, with diplomatic efforts ongoing to prevent another escalation.
F-22 Raptor. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Lt. Col. James Hecker (front) and Lt. Col. Evan Dertein line up their F/A-22 Raptor aircraft behind a KC-10 Extender to refuel while en route to Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Colonel Hecker commands the first operational Raptor squadron — the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va. The unit went to Hill for operation Combat Hammer, the squadron’s first deployment, Oct. 15. The deployment has a twofold goal: complete a deployment and to generate a combat-effective sortie rate away from home. [U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Ben Bloker]
Khamenei Orders Retaliation
Khamenei issued the warning in a written statement his office published on Saturday, October 31. In it, he described a meeting with Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Ali Abdollahi, Army Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Maj. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency also published the statement.
The account of the meeting, however, comes from Iranian official statements, and no independently verified footage of the gathering has been released, given that Khamenei has still not been seen or heard publicly since he was reported wounded during the opening round of strikes against the country.
According to the statement, Khamenei is ordering that any threat against Iran will be met with an “immediate and effective response, without geographical limitation.”
He also issued a direct warning to Washington and Israel, in what was a clear attempt at preventing yet more damage to Iranian infrastructure.
“If the enemies once again launch military or terrorist attacks, it will be the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Forces and the Iranian nation that determine when and under what conditions those hostilities will end,” Khamenei said.
Iran Is Building Weapons
The October 31 statement also provided new details about how Iran is preparing to defend itself and described a substantial increase in domestic weapons production. According to Axios, Iranian commanders described a “several-fold increase” in ammunition and combat weapons production. They also described ongoing preparations along the Persian Gulf coastline, the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, and the northwestern and southwestern Iranian borders.
The Wall Street Journal also reported on October 28 that Washington has been deploying more air-defense systems and military equipment to the Middle East, and that the Pentagon is also moving some American troops away from vulnerable installations. Reports also revealed how a Patriot missile defense battery was transferred from Texas to Israel in preparation for Iranian retaliation.
Is A Diplomatic Breakthrough Coming?
Reports on November 1 suggest that a diplomatic breakthrough could still prevent another round of American and Israeli attacks, with Reuters reporting on Sunday morning that Iranian negotiators were still in Doha and taking part in a third consecutive day of discussions with Qatari mediators. The mediators are understood to be in constant contact with Washington.
President Donald Trump has described the ongoing negotiations as productive and has repeatedly said there are no plans to launch new strikes before the November 3 midterm elections, but he has not ruled out military action afterward, and Americans will vote in just two more days.
However, there are murmurings of a potential breakthrough regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that the ongoing negotiations focus on a proposal to reopen the critical waterway within two days, with direct American-Iranian negotiations resuming thereafter. However, for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened, Tehran still demands sanctions relief and a reduced American military presence in the region. Washington would also be expected to recognize Iran’s preferred shipping arrangements and close the U.S.-backed convoy routes that run closer to the Omani coastline.
According to Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei, Washington has indicated it is willing to accept Iran’s conditions, though U.S. officials have not confirmed the claim. So far, President Trump has appeared reluctant to make any concessions to Iran, demanding that Tehran make nuclear concessions before the U.S. ends its military campaign and naval blockade.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
