Iran's Supreme Leader Orders Military to Prepare Unrestricted Retaliation After Drone Strike on Fishing Boats Near Qeshm Island

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei met with the country's top three military commanders on October 31 and ordered them to prepare an "immediate and effective response, without geographical limitations" to any renewed attack by the United States or Israel. The directive came hours after an "enemy" drone struck two Iranian fishing boats 14 nautical miles south of Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media and a provincial official attributed the strike to the U.S. Navy. Two fishermen were initially reported missing and two wounded; the missing fishermen were later found, according to Iranian state television.

Khamenei's instructions to the commanders were sweeping in scope. He ordered the military to update its target database so that, in his words, "all types of the American-Zionist enemy's material and non-material assets" fall within striking range, covering tangible and intangible targets alike. He also directed the armed forces to increase production of missiles, drones, and reconnaissance weapons, strengthen military intelligence, and develop indigenous defense capabilities. The goal, according to the post-meeting statement, was to achieve "maximum deterrence."

The three commanders present were Chief of Staff General Abdollahi, Army Commander Major General Hatami, and IRGC Commander Major General Vahidi. They briefed Khamenei on military readiness along the Gulf coastline, the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, and Iran's northwestern and southeastern borders, and reported a several-fold increase in ammunition and weapons production. Khamenei also praised what he called the "intelligent steadfastness" of Iran's regional proxies and described the unity of those fronts as a "decisive and strategic" element of Iran's posture. The escalation follows reported U.S. planning for a "short and intense" strike against Iran.