USA Iran's President: Not aiming for war
Following renewed military threats from US President Donald Trump, Iran's President Massud Peseshkian has spoken out in favor of a peaceful solution to the conflict with Washington.
01.02.2026, 06:21
01.02.2026, 06:22
SDA
In a telephone conversation with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Peseshkian emphasized the "need to initiate diplomatic processes", Iran's state news agency Irna reported. Iran has "never sought war" and is not seeking war now, Peseshkian said. The Islamic Republic is "deeply convinced that a war would not benefit Iran, the United States or the region", it said.
Iran prepares for negotiations
According to the country's top security official, Tehran is preparing for negotiations. The Secretary General of the National Security Council, Ali Larijani, wrote on X that contrary to the "artificially fueled war rhetoric" of the media, "structural preparations for negotiations are progressing". The talks on Iran's nuclear program are taking shape "despite the intensified threats of a military confrontation", wrote the news agency Irna, referring to Larijani's X post.
In this context, the US news portal "Axios" reported that Larijani had met with Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in the Iranian capital Tehran on Saturday. Al Thani is trying to mediate between the USA and Iran, it said.
Trump increases pressure
Trump had increased the pressure on Tehran with new threats. More warships are on their way to Iran - "and hopefully we will make a deal", Trump said in the White House. On a flight to Florida, he told journalists: "I hope they negotiate something that is acceptable." In addition to the cessation of Iran's controversial nuclear program, the negotiations will also focus on limiting the development of ballistic missiles in Iran.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared on Friday that his country was ready for both negotiations and war. Defense strategies and missile systems would never be the subject of negotiations. He warned the USA that this time a military conflict could go beyond a bilateral war. Last June, the US military bombed nuclear facilities in Iran - flanking Israeli attacks.
Israel waged war against its arch-enemy for twelve days. The USA is Israel's closest ally. Trump has repeatedly threatened the leadership in Tehran with military strikes, including in connection with the brutal crackdown on demonstrators by state repressive forces during the recent anti-government protests in Iran. Thousands, if not tens of thousands of people are said to have been killed. The US military has significantly expanded its presence in the region since the beginning of January, for example with the aircraft carrier "USS Abraham Lincoln" and its escort ships.
Iran's elite forces hold maneuvers
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards, which are considered the elite armed forces of the Islamic Republic and are subordinate to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, plan to begin a three-day maneuver in the Persian Gulf today against the backdrop of military tensions. China and Russia are also to take part.
The exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, during which live ammunition is to be fired, must not impair freedom of navigation and international commercial shipping in the important strait, the US regional command responsible for the Middle East (Centcom) had previously warned.
US military warns against provocations
The approximately 55-kilometer-wide strait between Iran and Oman is considered one of the most important shipping routes for global oil exports. Iran's units have the right to operate in international waters and airspace, the US military explained in a statement. However, no "unsafe" maneuvers such as flights over US warships or bases at low altitude would be tolerated, it added. This also applies to the approach of Iranian speedboats on a collision course with US ships.
Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi wrote on X: "The US military, which operates off our coasts, is now trying to dictate to our powerful armed forces how they should conduct target practice on their own territory." The presence of foreign forces "in our region has always had the opposite effect of what is proclaimed: Promote escalation instead of de-escalation."
The EU had previously agreed to classify Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization due to their cruel actions against the anti-government protests. EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas said after a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels that the move, which has been the subject of controversy for years, was made against the backdrop of the events of recent weeks. Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi accused the EU on X of adding fuel to the fire in the region and making a major strategic mistake.
