Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei ordered the country’s Armed Forces to maintain high combat readiness and confront any future US or Israeli action “swiftly” and “powerfully” during a meeting in Tehran on Sunday.
Iranian state media IRNA and MNA said officials issued the directives during talks with Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, who presented a report on Iran’s defensive and offensive preparedness.
Abdollahi said Iran’s Army, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Basij volunteer forces, border guards and Defence Ministry units remained prepared to respond to what he described as “hostile actions” by the United States and Israel.
He warned that any “strategic mistake, aggression, or invasion” would face an “intense and powerful” response.
The meeting marked one of Mojtaba Khamenei’s most visible military engagements since he became Supreme Leader in March 2026 following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during the opening phase of the reported US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Iranian state outlets framed the new directives as part of a post-war deterrence strategy following the 41-day conflict that began on February 28 and ended with a ceasefire earlier this month.
Tehran has repeatedly claimed the conflict failed to weaken its command structure or military capabilities.
Iranian officials also stressed continued readiness in the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions remain high despite the ceasefire. Analysts cited in regional coverage said the statements appeared aimed at reinforcing domestic morale and warning against renewed military escalation.
