Iran warns of geographically unrestricted response if US attacks again
Iran's supreme leader has warned that any renewed US or allied attack would be met with an immediate response that would be both impactful and geographically unrestricted. The warning comes as urgent diplomatic efforts continue to prevent another full-scale war involving Iran, with officials and analysts warning of wider consequences for the Middle East and beyond. According to state media, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei met Iran's top military commanders on Saturday and ordered preparations for possible new US-Israeli military action.
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The reported meeting included the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Ahmad Vahidi, as well as the Iranian army commander and his chief of staff. State media said the commanders briefed Khamenei on military readiness and told him that weapons production had increased seven-fold. Khamenei also called for an updated list of potential US and Israeli targets, including what state media described as all kinds of physical and non-physical assets.
Khamenei said Iran would decide the duration of any new war. He was quoted as saying that if Iran's enemies resumed military or terrorist attacks, it would be the Iranian armed forces and the Iranian people who would determine when and under what conditions those attacks ended. The warning was described as extending beyond the immediate region, with the phrase geographically unrestricted response interpreted as a signal that Europe and the South Caucasus could also be considered in any retaliation.
The remarks matter because they come amid a period of heightened tension between Iran, the United States and Israel, with the possibility of a short but intensive military campaign being discussed publicly. They also underline how quickly a new confrontation could widen beyond the original battlefield. For European governments and regional states, the language suggests that any escalation could carry direct security implications well outside Iran's borders.
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The warning follows earlier strikes in late February that began the current war, and state media said Khamenei has not been seen publicly since then. That absence has added to the significance of his latest message, which was delivered through official reporting rather than a public appearance. The timing also coincides with reported mediation efforts involving Qatar, as Tehran continues to combine deterrent threats with signs of possible diplomatic flexibility.
What remains unclear is whether the warning is intended mainly as deterrence or as a signal of operational readiness. It is also not clear how far any updated target list has progressed, or whether the reported diplomatic contacts can reduce the risk of further strikes. For now, the key question is whether the current mix of threats and negotiations can prevent a wider conflict from developing further.
