Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday, 25 October 2026, met Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei in Tehran, stressing the need for 'serious' efforts to pursue Iranian citizens' rights and secure compensation for damages inflicted during US-Israeli attacks on the country. The meeting's agenda, published on the supreme leader's official website, signals that Tehran intends to pursue legal and diplomatic redress even as the conflict with Washington and Tel Aviv remains unresolved.

Key Demands From the Meeting

Among the priorities Khamenei highlighted were promoting justice, safeguarding public rights, fighting corruption and its root causes, and handling judicial cases 'promptly, precisely and decisively.' He also called for the enforcement of judicial rulings in a 'timely and deterrent manner' and demanded a 'comprehensive and tangible' transformation of Iran's judicial apparatus.

Crucially, the supreme leader underlined the necessity of drawing up plans to 'decisively fight crimes' and to 'seriously pursue the restoration of the Iranian people's rights and compensation for the material and non-material damages' stemming from what he described as 'crimes perpetrated by the US-Israeli criminals.'

Background: The February Attacks and Iran's Response

The meeting follows a dramatic escalation that began on 28 February, when Israel and the United States launched coordinated joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities in what Washington dubbed 'Operation Epic Fury.' Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli territory and US military bases and assets across the region, while also tightening its grip on the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint through which a significant share of global oil supplies passes.

The conflict, which remains active, has rattled energy markets, strained global supply chains, and drawn in multiple regional actors. This is the most significant direct military confrontation between Iran and Western powers in recent decades.

Trump Raises Prospect of Fresh Strikes

Adding to the volatility, US President Donald Trump on Friday raised the prospect of renewed military action against Iran, making sweeping remarks to reporters as he departed the White House for a campaign rally in Florida. 'Iran is not able to do much now. And we could, if we wanted to, just take all of the oil,' Trump said. 'We could take the whole country.'

When asked about US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz's assessment that the conflict could drag on for another year, Trump said: 'We could end it very quickly ... The question is, ‘Do we want to finish it off or do we just want to let it wither?’'

At the Florida rally, Trump went further, suggesting another operation was possible. 'We may do another little Epic Fury,' he told attendees, directly referencing the 28 February joint offensive. Reports citing US media suggest American and Israeli military planners have already drawn up contingency plans for renewed strikes, potentially timed after the US midterm elections — though whether Trump will ultimately authorise another operation remains uncertain.

What This Means for the Region

Khamenei's directive to the judiciary to formalise compensation claims represents Tehran's effort to institutionalise its grievances within a legal framework, even as it continues military resistance. Notably, the move also serves a domestic political purpose: demonstrating to the Iranian public that leadership is actively pursuing accountability for wartime damages.

Trump's rhetoric, meanwhile, escalates pressure ahead of the midterms, and analysts warn that any renewed US-Israeli strike could push Iran to further restrict Hormuz transit, with immediate consequences for global oil prices. With both sides publicly signalling readiness for further action, the risk of a new escalatory cycle remains high.