Iranian Leader Demands Immediate Response to US and Israeli Strikes

Rising tensions across the Middle East prompted Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to demand an immediate military response to potential attacks by the United States and Israel on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. His warning came as regional officials gathered in Bahrain to pursue diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing another major conflict.

According to Iran's state media, Khamenei delivered the warning during a meeting with military officials. He instructed the armed forces to maintain combat readiness and prepare for potential confrontations with their adversaries.

Iran's official IRNA news agency quoted Khamenei as demanding an immediate response to threats of any magnitude.

"Any kind and level of threat" should receive an immediate response, Khamenei said.

He also called for updating the target bank associated with the United States and Israel. The statements came amid growing concerns about a possible return to full-scale warfare.

Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the position of supreme leader after the United States and Israel launched a war in February that killed his father and several other senior officials.

At a security forum in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed ElKhereiji emphasized the region's desire to restore stability. He said diplomatic initiatives were underway to prevent military escalation and negotiate an agreement to resolve the crisis involving Iran.

ElKhereiji described the regional position as a collective desire to end the conflict, while acknowledging uncertainty surrounding ongoing diplomatic negotiations.

"If you look at … the efforts that everybody is trying to do, the message is very clear. People in this part of the world want to bring peace back to the region," ElKhereiji said.

He added that the outcome of these diplomatic efforts remained unpredictable.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, who also attended the Bahrain forum, warned that further escalation could have devastating consequences for the region.

"We are very confident that … the second round will be more dangerous, more destructive, and it will lead to nowhere," Abdelatty said.

Meanwhile, Syria highlighted the importance of cooperation with Jordan in maintaining security along their shared border. Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani announced that a high-level meeting was expected next month to discuss border security arrangements.

Speaking at the same forum, al-Shibani said relations between the neighboring countries were not experiencing armed confrontations.

He said there were no "skirmishes" between Syria and Jordan.

The comments followed Jordanian airstrikes in Syria the previous week, which increased tensions between the two countries. Jordan said the strikes killed 20 militants belonging to the Islamic State group, while acknowledging that civilians were also among the casualties.

Syrian authorities reported seven deaths from the attacks, most of them women and children.

Al-Shibani also disclosed that Syria was discussing whether to join the Mecca Pact, a Saudi-led defense alliance that includes Turkey and Pakistan.

He stressed that establishing a regional security framework remained important regardless of Syria's eventual membership decision.

"Whether Syria joins or not, Syria thinks the region is in dire need of a structure that protects its security," al-Shibani said.

A high-level Syrian-Jordanian meeting is expected next month to address arrangements for securing their shared border.