Iran's new Supreme Leader orders unrestricted military response to threats

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered the armed forces to respond to any new US or Israeli attacks with an immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted military response, according to a statement released Saturday. The statement, posted on Khamenei's website, warned enemies against returning to war and said Iran would determine the timing and conditions for ending any future conflict. It followed a reported meeting with senior commanders, including armed forces chief Ali Abdollahi and Revolutionary Guards commander Ahmad Vahidi, where he also ordered an updated target list including "tangible and intangible assets" of the US and Israel. The remarks came amid fresh diplomatic efforts, including a Qatari delegation's visit to Tehran and a reported letter from US Vice President JD Vance, to which Iran has not yet responded. Khamenei has not been publicly seen since assuming leadership after his father's killing in US-Israeli strikes in February.