Iran’s central military command has warned it has intelligence indicating the US is preparing to resume strikes, and threatened retaliation against American bases and any states deemed complicit. President Trump said he was in a "deciding mode" and is open to meeting Iran’s leader at the UN General Assembly. Qatar and Pakistan are mediating, while Tehran insists talks require an end to attacks, release of frozen funds and lifting of a naval blockade. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped sharply, and a previously agreed 60-day lull has expired, increasing the risk of renewed hostilities.
Iran Warns US Preparing To Resume Strikes — Tehran Threatens Retaliation and Warns Regional Partners
Iranians in Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps uniforms march during a military parade in Tehran [File: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images]
Iran’s central military command says it has intelligence that the United States is preparing to resume strikes on Iranian territory. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters — which oversees Iran’s armed forces — issued the warning on Sunday, raising the prospect of renewed direct confrontations after months of relative lull.
Key Messages From Tehran
The military command warned that any renewed US assault would prompt retaliation against American bases and interests across the Middle East. It also cautioned regional states that assist Washington: countries allowing their territory or facilities to be used in support of US attacks would be "considered complicit" and could face an Iranian response.
"States that facilitated US attacks will be regarded as complicit," the command said.
US Response And Diplomacy
US President Donald Trump told Fox News he was in a "deciding mode" over Iran and said his options included further military action, increased economic pressure, or pursuing a diplomatic deal. He also said he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
State media reported that Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, departed Tehran for the UN General Assembly on Sunday evening, with a planned short stopover in Qatar.
Political Debate In Tehran
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told lawmakers that Tehran should consider using military force to push back opponents before turning to diplomacy to consolidate any gains. Ghalibaf also said the Strait of Hormuz would remain effectively closed until Washington met commitments Tehran says were agreed under an earlier understanding.
Mediation Efforts And Conditions For Talks
Qatar and Pakistan are acting as mediators. Tehran has told their envoys that conditions for resuming talks include an end to hostilities and US attacks, the release of frozen Iranian funds, and the lifting of what Iran describes as a US naval blockade on its ports. Qatar says its officials are shuttling between capitals and exchanging proposals aimed at restarting negotiations; a Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, said Doha had received assurances from US officials that Washington seeks an agreement.
Impact On Shipping And The Wider Conflict
The confrontation is already affecting the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments. Shipping data showed 12 commodity vessels transited the strait over the weekend, down from 35 the previous weekend. The broader conflict began in late February after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
A 60-day memorandum reached in June reduced full-scale fighting but expired last month; attacks around Hormuz have climbed since its lapse. Republican strategist and former White House national security official Mark Pfeifle told Al Jazeera both sides appear "locked in this frozen conflict" and may be ratcheting up pressure ahead of potential diplomacy at the UN.
What To Watch
Watch for developments at the UN General Assembly, any confirmed US operational movements, changes to shipping traffic through Hormuz, and statements from mediators in Doha and Islamabad. The coming days could clarify whether rhetoric will translate into renewed strikes or a return to negotiated de-escalation.
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