Iran’s supreme leader threatened an immediate response to a potential attack \u2014 one without \u201cgeographic limits\u201d \u2014 as diplomatic efforts continue in an effort to avoid a return to all-out war.
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister said a proposal has been reached that would fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz in just two days. And Iran’s security chief says the U.S. tone has \u201ccompletely changed\u201d in a good way.
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Here is the latest news from the Middle East on Saturday. Read our full coverage here.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said that \u201cany kind and level of threat\u201d from the U.S. or Israel should face an immediate response, one without geographic limits, the official IRNA news agency reported.
State media said that Khamenei, who hasn’t been seen publicly since the war began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, made the comments while meeting with military chiefs. He also called for an updated list of potential U.S. and Israeli targets.
Khamenei became supreme leader after the opening strikes killed his father. He has met with a series of senior officials in recent weeks, according to state media.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that a new proposal has been reached with mediators that would shorten the time to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to two days. He said that Iranian diplomats were in Qatar for discussions.
Araghchi last month proposed reopening the waterway within a week if the U.S. agreed to lift its blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen Iranian assets and waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales, among other conditions. That was rejected.
In an interview with Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, Araghchi said that Iran isn’t planning to meet with U.S. officials, but called recent U.S. efforts toward \u201cbroader dialogue\u201d a positive step.
Araghchi said a decision on whether negotiations will be direct or indirect would be made \u201conce Washington agrees to Iran\u2019s conditions.”
The head of Iran\u2019s Supreme National Security Council said \u201cthe tone has completely changed” from the U.S. and called it a \u201cvery good sign.\u201d
Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezaei told state television that he hasn’t responded to the letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and gave no details about it.
Rezaei singled out an important change to one of Iran’s conditions: Ships on a reopened Strait of Hormuz would have to travel on a route agreed upon by Iran and Oman. And \u201ceveryone passing through this waterway will do so under Iranian management.\u201d
He said that Iran awaits the latest U.S. response. Separately, Rezaei warned on X that any attack would bring \u201cdevastating blows on the aggressor using new weapons.\u201d
Rezaei, who state media this past week said has met with Iran\u2019s supreme leader, also said that there has been no decision to change Iran\u2019s nuclear doctrine, but noted that some Iranians have questioned whether that should change if Iran is attacked again.
Washington seeks to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. Tehran has insisted its nuclear program is peaceful and has wanted to discuss the issue later.
U.N. rights chief Volker T\u00fcrk urged Yemen\u2019s Iran-backed Houthi rebels to investigate the death in custody of a staff member of the U.N. Human Rights Office there.
Mohammad al-Shami, a Yemeni national, was detained in June 2024. T\u00fcrk said that al-Shami\u2019s family was only recently informed that he died more than a month ago and wasn\u2019t given a cause of death.
T\u00fcrk said that he remains concerned for other U.N. personnel who remain detained, including seven colleagues from his office.
The Houthis have claimed without evidence that detained U.N. staffers and those working with other international groups and foreign embassies in rebel-held areas were spies. The U.N. has denied the accusation.
Thousands rallied in Tel Aviv in support of forming an Arab-Jewish coalition in the new Israeli government after Tuesday’s elections. Arab-led parties had a historic showing, winning 19 seats in the 120-seat parliament, the Knesset.
\u201cAn Arab-Jewish government is not only what we want, it\u2019s a necessity in this country,\u201d said one attendee, Shahd Bishara. Arab citizens make up 20% of Israel’s population but have long faced discrimination.
Right-wing activists also showed up waving flags with photos of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose reliance on far-right allies to stay in power has angered many Israelis.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said a high-level meeting is expected next month to discuss border security arrangements with Jordan, after Jordanian strikes in Syria last week raised tensions.
Jordan said that the strikes killed 20 militants with the Islamic State extremist group, but acknowledged that civilians also had been killed. Syrian authorities reported seven people killed, most of them women and children.
Separately, al-Shibani said that Syria is in discussions to evaluate joining the Mecca Pact, the Saudi-led defense alliance that includes Turkey and Pakistan.
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This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.<\/p>\n