Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered the country’s armed forces to prepare an immediate response to any new military threat, removing geographical restrictions on potential retaliation and directing commanders to expand their list of American and Israeli targets.
The directive goes beyond conventional military preparations. It instructs Iranian forces to identify both physical and non-physical assets belonging to the United States and Israel that could be brought within the reach of Iran’s military capabilities.
In a statement published on his official Telegram account, Khamenei made clear that Tehran would not allow its adversaries to dictate the duration or conclusion of another confrontation.
Iran, he declared, would determine the timing and circumstances under which any renewed military or “terrorist attacks initiated by its enemies” would end.
The orders establish a position that any future confrontation would not necessarily remain confined to Iranian territory or the immediate region.
US and Israeli Assets Added to Iran’s Military Calculations
According to the statement, Khamenei instructed the armed forces to update their military target lists to ensure that different categories of American and Israeli assets could be placed within range of Iranian firepower.
The directive explicitly includes both material and non-material assets, indicating that Iran’s military planning is not restricted to conventional physical targets.
He also ordered commanders to strengthen military intelligence infrastructure and develop defence and security capabilities in line with emerging threats.
Modern technologies are expected to play a central role in these improvements, with Khamenei emphasising the need to adapt Iran’s military and intelligence systems to changing circumstances.
The orders reflect a broader effort to ensure that Iranian forces can respond immediately to threats while retaining flexibility over the geographical scope and duration of any confrontation.
Khamenei Calls for Stronger Intelligence and Military Resolve
Beyond operational readiness, Khamenei placed considerable emphasis on the internal strength of Iran’s armed forces.
According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, he called for reinforcing military morale and the “spirit of jihad”, alongside the continued development of intelligence, defensive and security capabilities.
He also stressed that maintaining military readiness required addressing the living conditions and material needs of service personnel.
Commanders were instructed to continue efforts to secure the armed forces’ essential living requirements and provide the support necessary to sustain their operational capabilities.
The combination of technological development, military preparedness and ideological commitment formed a central element of the directives.
Khamenei’s message presented military effectiveness as dependent not only on weapons and intelligence, but also on the morale, welfare and determination of the personnel responsible for defending the country.
Iran Says Public Mobilisation Is Part of Its Deterrence
Khamenei also identified popular support for Iran’s armed forces as a fundamental pillar of the country’s deterrence against hostile foreign powers and what he described as their domestic mercenaries.
He pointed to the continued presence of Iranian citizens in streets and public squares over the preceding eight months, describing their mobilisation as evidence of the population’s commitment to defending the country.
The Iranian leader drew a direct comparison between that mobilisation and the eight-year period Iran commemorates as the “Sacred Defence”.
He argued that the earlier period of resistance, supported by the armed forces, security institutions and Basij mobilisation forces, had protected Iran’s territorial integrity and Islamic political system.
The continuing public mobilisation, he said, represented an extension of that same national and religious commitment.
Khamenei maintained that the combined determination of the population, military, security forces and Basij would continue to safeguard Iran’s territorial unity and Islamic system against external threats.
His remarks positioned civilian mobilisation alongside military strength as a central component of Iran’s ability to withstand foreign pressure.
The latest directives therefore extend beyond preparations for another military exchange. They establish Iran’s stated intention to respond to renewed threats without geographical restrictions, expand the range of American and Israeli assets considered potential targets, and retain control over the conditions under which any future confrontation would end.
