Iran vows limitless retaliation if Washington strikes again, sets three conditions for peace via Qatar, and signals readiness for decisive action.
In the latest escalation, Tehran has announced that it has become aware of a possible new round of U.S. strikes and has warned Washington that any such action will be met with retaliation without limitations. The warning comes amid a heated exchange between President Donald Trump and Iranian officials, with the U.S.
president stating that the “only options on the table” are to either “obliterate Iran, letting it rot economically, or reach a deal.” This stark framing underscores the high-stakes environment surrounding the ongoing war.
Amid the tension, Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei told Al Jazeera that Tehran has transmitted a concrete set of demands to Washington through Qatari mediators.
The three pillars of the Iranian proposal are an end to the war on all fronts, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and the lifting of the naval blockade that has choked the Strait of Hormuz. Rezaei emphasized that “it is in Washington’s interest to accept these conditions” and warned that “Trump’s threats will not achieve any results.”
Tehran’s military signal and strategic focus
Rezaei described a shift in Iran’s war planning since the earlier confrontations. The current emphasis is on targeting U.S. naval assets stretching from the Gulf through the Gulf of Oman to the Arabian Sea. He noted that operations beyond that reach, toward the Indian Ocean, lie outside Iran’s immediate capability. In a recent test-fire, Iranian forces launched a multi-warhead anti-ship missile near a U.S. carrier group, a move that Rezaei said could lead to further development of the warheads. He added that any future response would be “heavy,” potentially striking U.S. bases, commercial interests, and companies operating in the region.
Preparedness for decisive conflict
When asked whether Tehran was ready for a new U.S. strike, Rezaei answered that the possibility is “very much on the cards” based on military assessments. He repeated that Iran is “prepared for a decisive war” and highlighted that, in practical terms, “the war is still going on.” The Iranian side thus balances a diplomatic overture with a clear signal that it will not back down militarily.
Qatar and Pakistan’s mediation push
Doha’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed that Qatari officials have been exchanging ideas with Washington and Tehran for nearly two weeks. The Qatar-Pakistan mediation team is shuttling between regional capitals in an effort to revive talks that stalled after the memorandum of understanding expired last month. Al-Ansari stressed the need for a “regional solution that achieves stability” and warned that allowing a single state to dominate strategic waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent.
The United States has issued a State Department security alert warning of a “complex” environment and the risk of unforeseen escalation. President Trump, speaking on Fox News, hinted at future escalations, saying, “very big things are going to be happening in the not-so-distant future.” These statements have heightened the urgency of mediation, even as Tehran maintains that any agreement must involve a dispute-resolution committee agreed upon by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and U.S. Vice President JD Vance a committee that Washington withdrew from unilaterally.
Broader regional implications
The conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, has already claimed more than 3,000 lives according to Tehran. Iran’s retaliation has included attacks on U.S. facilities in Arab states, leading to civilian casualties and further inflaming regional tensions. While Iran denies any direct involvement in Yemen’s war, Rezaei expressed a willingness to help mediate between the warring factions, insisting that the Bab al-Mandeb Strait remains a Yemeni matter and not a tool for Iranian pressure.
In addition, Iran hinted that it had been close to finalizing a maritime agreement with Oman before the deal fell through, indicating that Tehran still seeks diplomatic avenues outside of direct confrontation. However, the Iranian leadership remains firm that the nuclear policy, guided by the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s fatwa against nuclear weapons, will not change, even as the United States’ actions could push Tehran toward withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
As the United States and Iran continue to exchange veiled threats and diplomatic overtures, Qatar and Pakistan’s mediation efforts represent the only glimmer of a negotiated pause. Whether Washington will accept Tehran’s three conditions—or choose a harsher path—remains the central question shaping the next phase of the conflict.
