Mojtaba Khamenei Orders Unrestricted Response to Possible US Raids
If the United States president should undertake other rash acts in the region, through the threats and incentives of the zionists, the flames of war will undoubtedly spread to a much wider geographical area, and ending that war will no longer be in his hands,
warned Iranian army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia, as reported by ANSA.
Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered the Iranian armed forces to prepare an immediate and effective response without any geographical limits to any potential enemy threats. The directive emerged from a meeting with military commanders, as detailed by the official Irna news agency. Khamenei emphasized the necessity of combat readiness for a powerful confrontation to maintain maximum deterrence. Meanwhile, Washington has warned its allies in the Gulf to prepare for a new cycle of military strikes against Tehran that could begin as early as November 4, following the United States midterm elections.
Strait of Hormuz Maritime Incidents Fuel Regional Tensions
Maritime incidents in the strategic Strait of Hormuz continue to mount as naval mines and drone attacks disrupt shipping lanes. Iranian media reported that two fishing boats were targeted by United States drone attacks in the strait, leaving two fishermen injured and two temporarily missing before they were found safe near Qeshm Island. Separately, a supertanker carrying over two million barrels of crude oil struck a naval mine after ignoring radio warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy and attempting to exit through an unauthorized southern route, triggering a violent explosion and fire.
The Iranian military stated that five other tankers have been blocked while attempting to transit unauthorized routes, with three sustaining damage from naval mines and all vessels having deactivated their tracking systems. Iran reports at least 26 maritime incidents over a three-week period, with at least 20 linked to naval mines. Donald Trump previously accused Tehran of orchestrating these incidents to drive up oil prices ahead of the November 3 legislative elections, while the United States Central Command stated that the strait had been cleared of mines.
Diplomatic Maneuvers and Internal Divisions in Washington
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in Atlanta that Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on launching new military operations against Iran, adding that Washington remains open to a diplomatic solution, ANSA reported. Simultaneously, a report by the Wall Street Journal indicated that United States Vice President J.D. Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an effort to find sufficient common ground to avert new strikes. This diplomatic outreach highlights divisions within the conservative coalition regarding potential military escalation with Iran.
Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera, as cited by ANSA, that Tehran does not rule out the possibility of a renewed attack and remains prepared for all scenarios. Araghchi acknowledged the impact of American economic pressure but maintained that Iran will not surrender. Meanwhile, military officials continue to monitor United States movements in the region, asserting that the country’s armed forces have modernized their armaments and reached peak operational readiness.
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