Highest Alert Order from Jahanshahi

Iran's military forces have been ordered to maintain combat readiness at the highest level amid the potential for a new United States attack. The order was issued by Iran's Army Commander, Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi, and reported by Anadolu Agency and Middle East Monitor on Saturday (24/10/2026).

In his order, Jahanshahi warned his troops that negligence in wartime can have serious consequences. "In wartime conditions, any negligence or carelessness can lead to severe consequences," Jahanshahi said, as quoted by Iranian news agency Tasnim on Friday (23/10/2026).

He emphasized that operational readiness requires continuous training, accurate assessment of military capabilities, coordination between units, and rapid correction of shortcomings. Commanders at all levels were instructed to strengthen combat capabilities through careful planning and sustained supervision.

Trump's Ultimatum: 'Little Epic Fury' or Negotiation

Tehran's alert order came a day after US President Donald Trump hinted at a new military operation against Iran. Speaking at a Republican midterm election campaign in Florida on Friday (23/10/2026), Trump said the US might launch follow-up operations if Tehran does not agree to a negotiated settlement of the conflict.

'We might do another little Epic Fury, or they will agree [to negotiate],' Trump said, referring to the US military operation against Iran in late February. He also claimed Operation Midnight Hammer had eliminated Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity.

'If they were smart, they would immediately say, let's discuss this seriously,' Trump said, while doubting Tehran would take that step. The threat was conditional, not an announcement of a decided attack.

'This Weekend': Barrack's Signal and Trump's Response

A more specific time window comes from US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who is also the US special envoy for Syria. In an interview with podcast host Mario Nawfal on Friday (10/23/2026), Barrack was asked whether a US strike could happen this weekend. "Is a strike possible this weekend? Absolutely," he replied, as quoted by AFP.

Barrack actually has no direct role in matters related to Iran, and Trump responded casually to the statement when asked for confirmation. This series of statements explains why the Iran alert order was read as a response to mounting pressure, not to an attack that had already occurred.

On the diplomatic front, mediation by Pakistan and Qatar is facing a deadlock, according to the same report. Without a negotiating breakthrough, the mutual threats between the two capitals are the only public signal of the conflict's direction in the coming days.

Background: Hormuz, Deadlocked Mediation, and a Broader Retaliation

This tension is rooted in a months-long dispute over security and navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic artery for global oil and gas supplies. The US-Iran conflict is entering its eighth month; the April 8 ceasefire that ended the 40-day war has not stopped sporadic hostilities since the US-Israel strikes on February 28.

Reuters reported on October 1, 2026 that Tehran is planning a broader and harsher retaliation if Washington launches another large-scale attack. According to three senior Iranian officials and one source, Tehran has instructed allied groups in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq to be ready to support, with a coordinated response "from the Strait of Hormuz to US interests in the region and beyond the Middle East."

Tehran keeps the negotiation channel open through Qatari mediators, even as its officials privately assess that a deal with Washington is difficult to reach. Jahanshahi's highest alert, Trump's ultimatum, and Barrack's weekend signal now converge at a single point: whether this weekend will be filled with talks, or instead open a new chapter of conflict.