Iran is preparing for a broader and more forceful response if the US resumes large-scale military attacks, while Tehran continues diplomatic efforts that Iranian officials privately consider unlikely to succeed.

Iran’s top military command is reviewing response plans that could expand the list of potential targets beyond US-linked assets, Reuters reports.

The plans could include countries supporting US military operations and potentially targets outside the Middle East.

Since President Masoud Pezeshkian returned from New York, senior officials and military commanders have focused on the possible scale and timing of a response if Washington launches another major attack. No final decision has been made.

At the same time, Tehran is trying to keep diplomatic channels with Washington open as it prepares for the possibility of a wider conflict.

Iran’s economic situation is adding pressure to the calculations. US restrictions on oil exports have severely affected the country’s main source of revenue.

During the UN General Assembly, Iran reportedly conveyed a proposal to the United States through Qatari mediators that called for a halt to hostilities, an end to the blockade, the release of at least $12 billion in funds and the lifting of oil sanctions.

US President Donald Trump rejected the proposal and sent counterproposals. Washington wants Iran’s nuclear program included in negotiations, while Tehran says nuclear talks can begin only after its conditions are met.

The combination of military and economic pressure is also raising concerns about Iran’s internal stability.

A former senior Iranian reformist official said the leadership is worried about a repeat of large-scale protests that erupted in January amid worsening economic conditions.

Human rights groups and UN experts have reported increased security measures inside Iran as authorities seek to prevent economic hardship and external military pressure from fueling further domestic tensions.

With diplomatic prospects still uncertain, Iran is simultaneously preparing for a possible escalation and keeping indirect negotiations alive. Iranian officials privately view the chances of a successful agreement as limited.