Iran’s central military command announced on Sunday that it has received intelligence indicating the United States is preparing to restart aerial strikes against the country. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which oversees the Iranian armed forces, issued the warning, signaling a potential escalation after months of diminished direct combat.
Tehran cautioned that any renewed US assault would trigger immediate retaliation against American military bases and interests across the Middle East. The command further stated that any regional nation allowing its territory or facilities to be used to support US attacks would be deemed “complicit” and could face Iranian countermeasures.
US President Donald Trump revealed in an interview with Fox News that he is currently in a “deciding mode” regarding Iran, listing continued military action, economic sanctions, and diplomatic deals as potential pathways. He also expressed willingness to meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Tehran on Sunday evening for the UN assembly, with a brief stopover in Qatar according to state media. In a contrasting signal, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf urged lawmakers to employ military force to push back against adversaries before pursuing diplomacy to secure any future gains. He confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington fulfills commitments under a previous agreement.
Iran has communicated to Qatari and Pakistani mediators that prerequisites for resuming negotiations include an end to hostilities and US attacks, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and the lifting of a US naval blockade on Iranian ports. Al Jazeera correspondent Tohid Asadi reported from Tehran that Iranian officials are sending a deliberate two-track message, remaining open to dialogue while actively preparing for renewed conflict.
Qatar, which has been mediating between the two nations, stated that its officials are shuttling between capitals to exchange proposals for restarting talks. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari noted that US officials have provided assurances of their desire to reach an agreement.
The ongoing confrontation continues to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments. Shipping data indicates that only 12 commodity vessels transited the strait over the weekend, a significant drop from the 35 recorded the previous weekend. The conflict originated in late February following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Although a 60-day memorandum signed in June temporarily reduced full-scale fighting, it expired last month, leading to an increase in attacks around the strategic waterway.
Mark Pfeifle, a Republican strategist and former White House national security official, told Al Jazeera that both nations appear “locked in this frozen conflict,” attempting to heighten pressure prior to any potential diplomatic engagements surrounding the UN gathering.
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