Iran's Khamenei warns US and Israel against fresh attacks, orders 'unrestricted' military response to threats https://t.co/LCbw3G0Vyv
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) October 31, 2026
The USA and Israel have been fairly public about their intent to strike Iran again. Iran’s Supreme leader has now issued his own threats:
Iran’s supreme leader warns U.S., Israel against new attacks
October 31, 2026
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned the U.S. and Israel on Saturday against restarting the war amid weeks of heightened tensions and threats on both sides. He said there would be no geographical limitations for Iranian attacks if the war resumes. https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-us-trump-diplomacy-threat-resume-attacks/
Iran’s supreme leader orders “maximum” response to any U.S. attack
October 31, 2026
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei told the country’s top three military commanders that a renewed attack by the U.S. and Israel ״must be met with an immediate and effective response, without geographical limitations״ in order to achieve “maximum deterrence,” according to a statement from his office.
Why it matters: This is the first publicly disclosed meeting between Khamenei and all the top commanders of Iran’s armed forces since the war began. It comes as President Trump weighs major strikes on Iran after the midterm elections. …
“If the enemies once again launch military or terrorist attacks, it will be the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Forces and the Iranian nation that determine when and under what conditions those hostilities will end,” Khamenei told the commanders, according to the statement. …
Khamenei instructed the commanders that the “target bank” must be updated “so that all types of the American-Zionist enemy’s material and non-material assets fall within the reach of the Armed Forces.” https://www.axios.com/2026/10/31/irans-supreme-leader-maximum-response-us-attack
Yes, it is expected that if the USA again bombs Iran that Iran would retaliate. However, a MAXIMUM response by Iran may result in massive retaliation by the USA and/or Israel.
The statements from the USA, Israel, and Iran are at least rumors of war.
Jesus, of course, warned about these things and referred to them as the beginning of sorrows:
4 Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8)
When Iran made similar military comments back in February, I posted:
Iran’s public statements seem to be confirming that it intends to “overplay its hand.” … I have long felt that it may be that Iran would be ‘neutralized’ before the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40) rises up.(Thiel B. Iran makes retaliatory threats–is Iran overplaying its hand? COGwriter, February 8, 2026)
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran was effectively neutralized the next month (see Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump confirm another COGwriter prediction).
As far as previously warning about Iran’s neutralization, years ago I posted:
I believe that Iran will be somewhat neutralized at some point in time as I differ from PCG on Iran and the king of the South. (COG News: Emphasizing News of Interest to those Once in the Worldwide Church of God. April 7, 2007. https://cogwriter.com/1103news.htm)
Iran … may well cause Israel, the USA, and/or others to turn on it and destroy aspects of its military capability. …I have long believed that Iran is a threat that will one day be ‘neutralized’ (Jeremiah 49:34-38), as I believe it will overplay its hand. Its confidence in its drones and other military technologies will likely get it to take destructive actions that will result in severe retaliation. … Now as Isaiah 22 shows, Israel could very well be damaged by Iran before the the Great Tribulation begins. Iranian drones may well be a factor. (Thiel B. Iran, Drones, Ukraine, and Israel. COGwriter, October 21, 2022)
We later made a video:
14:20
Iran Neutralization Prediction Confirmed
Are current events involving Iran confirming long-standing prophetic interpretations? In this episode of the Bible News Prophecy Program, Steve Dupuie speaks with Bob Thiel about how recent developments in the Middle East align with predictions he has made for nearly two decades. Dr. Thiel explains his long-held position that Iran would not become the prophesied “King of the South” described in the Book of Daniel, and instead would be “somewhat neutralized” before that power rises. He points to recent statements from leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, who claim Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly weakened, as evidence that Iran has been somewhat neutralized. The discussion explores: What “neutralization” of Iran really means? Why Iran is not the final dominant power in biblical prophecy? How a future Middle Eastern confederation may emerge. The role of prophecy in understanding global conflicts. Scriptures from the Book of Ezekiel, Second Epistle of Peter, and Gospel of Mark are also examined to provide context and caution against misinterpretations of current events. As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, this episode challenges viewers to carefully compare headlines with scripture—and to stay alert, as Jesus instructed.
Here is a link to our video: Iran Neutralization Prediction Confirmed.
However, as I wrote on March 20, 2026:
Neutralization does not mean that Iran will be eliminated. But basically we in the CCOG believe that Iran will not be in a strong enough military position to become the King of the South of biblical prophecies such as Daniel 11:40-43.
My free eBook, Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency:, has the following:
Iran and Prophecy
Prior to his first election, Donald Trump stated that he wants to eliminate or at least change the “nuclear deal” with Iran. [i]
And that he did.[ii]
However, the Biden-Harris Administration tried to revive it, though never fully did. However, the Biden-Harris Administration did release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets back to Iran[iii] as well as it, apparently intentionally, did not enforce sanctions which allowed Iran to nearly triple its oil revenues 3 years after Donald Trump left office.[iv]
In the June 27, 2024 debate with Joe Biden, Donald Trump then blamed the Biden-Harris Administration for assisting in Iran’s ability to provide more funding to proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah.[v] It is believed that Donald Trump will likely use some type of “maximum pressure” strategy again against Iran during his next Administration.[vi]
Because Bible prophecy indicates that it will be primarily Arabic nations that support the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8), though with some support (probably temporary per Daniel 11:25-26) from Turkey (and possibly Pakistan), it is not biblically possible that Iran can truly be the leader of the Islamic world as it seems to want to be. Also, because it is basically due east of Jerusalem, Iran should not be considered to be a candidate to be the final ‘King of the South’ of biblical prophecy.
Despite its posturing and relative military strength, Iran will be somehow effectively neutralized (cf. Ezekiel 32:24). This could perhaps be from an attack involving Israel and/or internal civil unrest — this could also include electromagnetic (EMP) or similar weapons used against Iran (Jeremiah 49:34-39).
It is of prophetic interest to note that the small nation of Israel is prophesied to one day be attacked by some that seem to have a connection to Iran (Isaiah 22:1-14).
Iran may decide to strike out against Israel, and possibly Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:7-8) if a Trump Administration and/or Israel takes actions it does not like.
Iran has weapons that can cause damage. Furthermore, the USA itself (as well as is the State of Israel) is vulnerable to EMP type attacks and items such as biological weapons, chemical weapons, terrorism, nuclear weapons, dirty bombs, etc. because of a conflict involving Iran, Syria, and/or others.
But should this occur, this would NOT be the final destruction of the USA. Prophetically, Iran would not end up faring well (cf. Ezekiel 32:24-25).
[i] Wilkinson T. Trump’s plans to scuttle or amend the Iran nuclear deal remain a work in progress. Los Angeles Times, November 14, 2016
[ii] Trump DJ. President Donald J. Trump is Ending United States Participation in an Unacceptable Iran Deal. White House Fact Sheet, May 8, 2018
[iii] Knickmeyer E, et al. Americans released by Iran arrive home, tearfully embrace their loved ones and declare: ‘Freedom!’ Associated Press, September 19, 2023
[iv] Steil B. Biden is Giving Up Powerful U.S. Financial Sanctions on Iran | Opinion. Newsweek, August 13, 2021; Cohen A. Joe Biden’s Iran Oil Sanctions Failure. National Interest, November 2, 2024
[v] READ: Biden-Trump debate transcript. CNN, June 28, 2024
[vi] What is Trump’s ‘maximum pressure policy’ that could drive up costs for China’s Iranian oil imports? Times of India, November 6, 2024; Strobel WP, et al. Trump to Renew ‘Maximum Pressure’ Campaign Against Iran. Wall Stree Journal, November 8, 2024
Since that book was published, yes, Donald Trump has reinstituted a type of “maximum pressure” strategy again against Iran and has attacked Iran a few times.
On October 20, 2026, I posted the following:
During this lull in fighting, I believe that Iran has been preparing.
It remains my belief that Hezbollah and Iran will one day reign a volley of bombs on Israel. Those in Jerusalem, and not just in the northern portion of Israel, should be concerned. I also believe that at least some Syria will become more directly involved against Israel.
The Bible shows that God will allow the nation of Israel to be hit as shown in the Israel Bible translation:
5 For my Lord God of Hosts had a day Of tumult and din and confusion— Kir raged in the Valley of Vision, And Shoa on the hill; 6 While Elam bore the quiver In troops of mounted men, And Kir bared the shield— 7 And your choicest lowlands Were filled with chariots and horsemen: They stormed at Yehuda‘s* gateway.
8 And pressed beyond its screen. You gave thought on that day To the arms in the Forest House,9 And you took note of the many breaches In the City of David. And you collected the water of the Lower Pool; 10 and you counted the houses of Yerushalayim and pulled houses down to fortify the wall; and you constructed a basin between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you gave no thought to Him who planned it, You took no note of Him who designed it long before. (Isaiah 22:5-10)
Yehuda above means Judah, which is the modern nation called Israel. And Yerushalayim is commonly known as Jerusalem.
So, while Iran has overplayed its hand and has been somewhat neutralized, it is not powerless.
The Bible shows that Jerusalem (the City of David) will suffer from a confederation that involves Iran.
That may be something that Iran’s supreme leader has in mind.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? Here are two related videos: Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2026, 2027, or 2028? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? A short video is available titled: Countdown to the Great Tribulation.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen? This is a free eBook.
