Iran's top leader hits US with dark new threat: 'Without geographical limitations'

Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has ordered the country’s top military commanders to answer any renewed U.S. or Israeli attack with a response “without geographical limitations," according to new reporting.

Khamenei met with Iran’s three highest-ranking commanders and told them a new attack “must be met with an immediate and effective response, without geographical limitations” in order to achieve “maximum deterrence.” That’s according to a statement released after the meeting and reported by Axios correspondent Barak Ravid.

“If the enemies once again launch military or terrorist attacks, it will be the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Forces and the Iranian nation that determine when and under what conditions those hostilities will end,” Khamenei said, according to the statement.

He also ordered that Iran’s “target bank” be updated “so that all types of the American-Zionist enemy’s material and non-material assets fall within the reach of the Armed Forces.” He praised the “intelligent steadfastness” of Iran’s proxies across the region.

The meeting included Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Abdollahi, Army commander Maj. Gen. Hatami and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Maj. Gen. Vahidi. According to the statement, the commanders briefed Khamenei on military readiness along the Gulf coast, around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, and on Iran’s northwestern and southeastern borders. They also reported a “several-fold increase” in the production of ammunition and combat weapons.

The warning comes days after Republican strategist Karl Rove said he expects President Donald Trump to resume strikes on Iran after Tuesday’s midterm elections. The Pentagon has two aircraft carrier strike groups in the region, and a third is on the way.