Wong warns new US strikes on Iran would worsen global instability, protests

Expectations are growing that US President Donald Trump will order new strikes against Iran as soon as this week, potentially the day after the US midterm elections on November 3, according to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. While Trump has suggested he could launch fresh military action following the elections, Free Malaysia Today reports that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Trump has not yet made a decision regarding further military action.

Rubio expressed a preference for a diplomatic solution and noted that the US would be open to one if available, though he did not commit to a specific timeframe for talks.

In response to threats from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned the US and Israel against launching new attacks, according to Malay Mail, Punch, and Free Malaysia Today. Khamenei told military commanders that any threat must be met with an immediate and geographically unrestricted response, and he ordered an update to Iran's target list to include all tangible and intangible assets belonging to the "American-Zionist enemy."

Malay Mail reports this was the first reported meeting between Khamenei and top military brass. Additionally, Iran has previously warned it would consider severing undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Malay Mail, Free Malaysia Today, Punch — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.