Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei met Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf on Wednesday to review the latest developments in the US-Israeli military offensive against Iran, Iranian media reported — a rare reported appearance by a leader who has not been seen in public since late February. No official pictures of the meeting were released.

Source: Press TV

According to Iranian media, Khamenei called for strengthening the country's components of power, highlighted the role of members of parliament in preserving social cohesion and national unity, and praised continued public gatherings in support of the Islamic Republic and the armed forces, describing them as “deterrent”. Ghalibaf, who is leading Iran's negotiations with the Americans through intermediaries such as Qatar and Pakistan, briefed the leader on steps lawmakers have taken since the latest US-Israeli war began late in February, ANI reported, citing Iranian media.

Strike-plan reports raise the temperature

The meeting was reported a day after the New York Times said the US and Israeli militaries have drawn up plans for renewed strikes on Iran after next month's US midterm elections, with likely targets including Iran's energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities and its missile and drone arsenal, according to ANI's report of the Times story. Awaaz Punjab has already reported those strike plans separately; Washington and Tehran have not confirmed them.

Iranian media also reported that Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the country's armed forces have prepared a “more devastating plan” in response to any new attack, one that will not follow “the rules they are familiar with”. That is an Iranian official's claim, reported as such; it has not been independently verified.