Iran orders immediate strike on any renewed US-Israel attack

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordered armed forces on Oct. 31 to launch an immediate counterstrike against any renewed US or Israeli military action.

Brent crude futures climbed 1.8% to $74.20 a barrel in London following the directive, as energy markets priced in potential disruption to Persian Gulf export routes. The order raises the risk of direct confrontation across maritime choke points that handle about 20% of global petroleum shipments.

Persian Gulf military posture and crude risk

Government statements indicated that commanders hold operational clearance to retaliate without waiting for secondary political authorization. Diplomatic intermediaries had sought a pause in strikes, but defense directives issued on Saturday instructed missile units along the southern coast to maintain continuous readiness.

Regional security officials said the counterstrike mandate extends to allied regional groups and naval patrols in the Strait of Hormuz. The posture compounds shipping risks for commercial tankers operating near key transit lanes, where maritime insurance surcharges rose 15 basis points earlier in the week as operators reassessed navigational safety.

Mediators are scheduled to convene emergency talks in Geneva on Nov. 4 to establish terms for maritime de-escalation before regional military drills begin.