Iran’s supreme leader threatens swift response to any U.S. or Israeli attack

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, threatened an immediate response without “geographic limits” to any new attack by the United States or Israel, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing Iran’s official IRNA news agency.

Khamenei said “any kind and level of threat” should draw a broad and swift response and called for an updated list of potential U.S. and Israeli targets. Iranian state media said he made the remarks during a meeting with military officials. He has not appeared publicly since U.S. and Israeli strikes began on Feb. 28, but state media has reported meetings with senior officials in recent weeks.

Separately, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran and mediators had reached a proposal that could reduce to two days the time required to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian diplomats were holding discussions in Qatar. Araghchi said Iran was not planning to meet U.S. officials, though he described recent American efforts toward a “broader dialogue” as positive. He said Iran would decide whether negotiations should be direct or indirect once Washington accepted its conditions.

Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said he had not replied to a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance but called its changed tone a “very good sign.” Rezaei also said Iran had made no decision to alter its nuclear doctrine.