Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to revise its target list so that "all tangible and intangible assets" of the United States and Israel fall within reach of Iran's armed forces. He also demanded that any attack be answered immediately and without geographic limits.
Khamenei issued the instructions on Saturday at a meeting with top Iranian army officials. His statement was published by Iran's semi-official Nour News Agency.
The order names Israeli assets alongside American ones as targets for Iran's armed forces.
Khamenei told the commanders to prepare "an immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response," and said threats of every level and type must be met that way. He described "intelligent combat readiness for a powerful confrontation with enemies" as the requirement for "maximum deterrence."
He also claimed for Iran the power to decide when any new war ends.
"If the enemies once again launch military or terrorist attacks, it is the armed forces of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation that will determine the time and conditions for their end," Khamenei said.
Khamenei called the "unity of arenas" the decisive factor in shaping a new political and security order in the Middle East. He said it could strengthen unity among Islamic countries and pave the way for a new Islamic civilization.
The orders followed preparations in Washington. On Friday, Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), presented President Donald Trump with options for renewed strikes on Iran at a rare in-person White House briefing on Thursday. US commanders are preparing for the possibility that a new round could trigger Iranian missile and drone attacks on American installations, on Israel and on neighboring Gulf states. Washington also dispatched an additional Patriot air defense battery to Israel over concerns about interceptor stockpiles.
