Iran's Armed Forces Chief Warns US and Israel of Harsher Response

Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, chief of the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, warns the United States and Israel against a new war. Iranian media report he issued the message to the Iranian people on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Abdollahi says any renewed U.S. or Israeli attack would draw a response more severe and effective than in the Third Imposed War, Tehran Times reports. That is a term Iranian officials use for the current conflict with the U.S. and Israel.

What Abdollahi Said

Posts attributed to Abdollahi say Iran is "monitoring the enemy's movements and preparations." They add that Iran is "constantly updating our target database." CGTN Europe quoted Iranian reports for the wording. Tehran Times says the armed forces have prepared a new list of enemy targets across a wider area.

He adds that Iran will not wait for the enemy to move first once hostile action is confirmed. The armed forces will choose "the time and method of response." That response, he says, will be "immediate, effective, and without geographical limitations."

Tehran Times also says Abdollahi stated that Iran will determine when any conflict ends. The reports do not say which U.S. or Israeli moves he refers to.

The Leader's Order

The message follows a meeting earlier on Saturday. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei met Abdollahi, Army commander Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami and IRGC commander Maj. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, Mehr News Agency reports. It was their first reported meeting.

Khamenei ordered an "immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response" to any threat. He also told them to update the military target database. Clash Report covered the order and the arms-output claims earlier today.

Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohammad Akraminia struck a similar tone on X. He said a new U.S. operation would spread the war over a much wider area. AFP reports that he added the end of the conflict "will not be in his hands," referring to Trump.

Abdollahi has issued similar warnings before. On Oct. 5, he said a new war would "engulf everyone." On Oct. 18, Press TV quoted him saying Iran is "counting the moments until your foolish decisions."

Strike Talk and Diplomacy

The warnings come as Washington weighs its next move. MS NOW reported on Friday that President Donald Trump plans to resume strikes on Iran as soon as Nov. 4. That report is unconfirmed by the White House, and no final decision has been announced.

Diplomacy continues in parallel. Qatari mediators held more than 12 hours of talks in Tehran on Friday, Reuters reported. An Iranian delegation then arrived in Doha on Saturday.

Vice President JD Vance has also sent a letter to Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei, the Wall Street Journal reported. Iran has confirmed receiving it, AFP reports, but has not announced a reply. The U.S. midterm elections take place on Nov. 3.