Iran Leader Vows Quick Response to US and Israeli Strikes

TEHRAN, Iran. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned on Saturday that Iran will launch an immediate and severe military response to any attack by the United States and Israel. State media reported that the leader made the remarks during a meeting with top military officials. He instructed the armed forces to maintain combat readiness and to update their list of target sites for the two nations.

Khamenei assumed the role of supreme leader following a war in February that was launched by the United States and Israel. The conflict resulted in the death of his father and other senior government officials. According to the official news agency IRNA, Khamenei stated that any threat, regardless of its level, must be met with a swift reply. His comments come as concerns rise regarding a potential return to full-scale war.

Tensions have increased in the Persian Gulf region. Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi proposed a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within one week. The proposal was contingent on the United States lifting its blockade of Iranian ports, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and exempting Iranian oil from sanctions. That initial offer was rejected by Washington. Araghchi noted on Saturday that a new proposal has been reached with mediators that would reduce the timeframe for fully reopening the strait to two days.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi said Iran does not plan to meet directly with U.S. officials at this stage. He described recent American moves toward a wider dialogue as a positive step. The foreign minister stated that Iran carefully reviewed a letter sent by Vice President JD Vance a few days earlier. He added that the decision on whether negotiations will be direct or indirect will be made once Washington accepts Iran's conditions.

Regional leaders gathered in Bahrain on Saturday to address the growing fear of military escalation. Waleed ElKhereiji, the Saudi deputy foreign minister, spoke at a security forum in the capital, Manama. He stated that the region's message is a desire to return to peace. ElKhereiji said efforts are underway to prevent a military escalation and to reach an agreement that ends the crisis with Iran. He acknowledged that while many are trying to make peace, the outcome of those efforts cannot be predicted.

Egytian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also spoke at the Bahrain forum. He warned that a second round of war would be more dangerous and destructive than the first. Abdelatty said he was certain that further escalation would not lead to a positive result for the region. His comments reflected a broader concern among neighbors that a renewed conflict could spread beyond the current combatants.

The Syrian foreign minister, Assad al-Shibani, addressed the same security forum in Bahrain. He stated that border security between Syria and Jordan is a shared responsibility. Al-Shibani said a high-level meeting is expected next month to discuss arrangements for the border. He noted that there are no skirmishes between the two countries. This statement followed Jordanian airstrikes on Syrian soil last week, which raised tensions between the neighbors.

Jordan said the airstrikes last week killed 20 insurgents from the extremist group the Islamic State. The Jordanian government acknowledged that civilians were also killed in the operation. Syrian authorities reported seven deaths in the strikes, noting that most of the victims were women and children. Al-Shibani also said Syria is in talks to evaluate its potential membership in the Mecca Pact. This is a defense alliance led by Saudi Arabia that includes Turkey and Pakistan. He said Syria believes the region urgently needs a structure to protect its security, whether Syria joins the pact or not.