Khamenei orders an immediate response ‘without geographical limitations’ to any renewed US attack, as Qatari mediators hold 12 hours of talks in Tehran
Iran’s supreme leader met all his top commanders for the first publicly disclosed time since the war began, while mediation moves to Doha on Saturday.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei told the country’s top three military commanders that a renewed attack by the United States and Israel “must be met with an immediate and effective response, without geographical limitations” in order to achieve “maximum deterrence,” according to a statement from his office1.
It is the first publicly disclosed meeting between Khamenei and all the top commanders of Iran’s armed forces since the war began1. Khamenei also ordered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to update its target list, according to one account of the meeting3.
At the same time, Qatari mediators held talks in Tehran for more than 12 hours on Friday in an effort to reach a deal to restart direct negotiations between the United States and Iran and avoid an outbreak of war after the midterms, according to diplomatic sources2. The discussions will continue in Doha on Saturday2.
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Why it matters to investors
The statement arrives as President Trump weighs major strikes on Iran after the midterm elections1. A possible US military operation would inflict enormous damage on Iran and would likely lead to retaliatory strikes against Israel and a host of Gulf countries, according to the account of the talks2.
Khamenei’s order, with its stress on a response without geographical limits, sets out Tehran’s stated position on how far any retaliation would reach1,3. Khamenei has not been seen or heard in public since he was wounded in an Israeli strike on the first day of the war, and he has only issued written statements1.
The diplomatic track is still open. A diplomatic source said the Qatari mediators were in regular contact with the White House during Friday’s daylong session2. “There was positive progress. Talks are still ongoing,” the source said2.
A preliminary draft framework for US-Iran negotiations proposes transferring Iran’s uranium stockpile abroad and reopening the Strait of Hormuz within 7 days, according to reports on the draft4,5.
What to watch
The first marker is the outcome of the Doha session on Saturday, the next stage of the talks that ran for more than 12 hours in Tehran2.
A second is whether the draft terms on uranium and Hormuz survive into any agreement to restart direct negotiations2,5.
A third is the decision in Washington on strikes after the midterms, which Khamenei’s statement was framed to deter1.
Sources
- Iran’s supreme leader orders “maximum” response to any U.S. attack, axios.com (2026-10-31)
- Qataris hold marathon talks in Tehran in bid for U.S.-Iran deal before midterms, axios.com (2026-10-31)
- Khamenei: IRGC will have ‘immediate, unrestricted response’ to any US, Israeli threats, jpost.com (2026-10-31)
- Shifting uranium stockpile abroad, reopening Hormuz within 7 days: Inside the draft US- Iran ..., indiatvnews.com (2026-10-31)
- Iran -US draft proposes uranium transfer, Hormuz reopening within 7 days: Report, aninews.in (2026-10-31)
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