Iran raises readiness, sidelines talks amid US escalation

Iran will raise its defensive readiness to the highest level as US military threats intensify, an Iranian source tells Al Mayadeen, saying negotiations with Washington are not a priority under military pressure.

Jan. 28, 2025

An Iranian security source told Al Mayadeen on Wednesday that Tehran is taking the prospect of war “very seriously” and will raise its defensive readiness to the highest level, amid an expanding US military buildup in the region.

The source highlighted that Iran cannot be distracted by messages from Washington while the enemy’s military mobilization continues.

“Military action is not an easy option for the United States,” the source said, stressing that US decision-makers are fully aware Iran’s response would be decisive and carefully calibrated, not merely proportional. According to the source, Iran’s response doctrine has been “designed in a way that would make them think twice even about launching limited strikes.”

The source warned that any US base in the region used to carry out air operations against Iran would be directly targeted. “We would strike the same point and the same base,” the source added, underscoring that Iran does not consider neighboring countries hostile and would not target them unless their territory, airspace, or waters were used against Iran.

Negotiations not a priority under military pressure

On the issue of negotiations, the source said talks with Washington are “not a priority at this stage,” given the ongoing military buildup. “The United States cannot force us into negotiations through military pressure,” the source added, while noting that Iran remains open to talks if they are conducted without predetermined outcomes.

The remarks come as US President Donald Trump renewed threats against Iran, urging Tehran to accept a nuclear deal or face a “far worse” attack. Trump claimed that a large US “armada” was moving toward Iran, repeating assertions that Tehran is seeking negotiations, claims Iranian officials have consistently rejected.

Reports indicate that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group has entered the region, accompanied by fighter jets, refueling aircraft, and air defense systems, in what could only be understood as a direct show of force.

US officials have also continued to float the possibility of military action and even regime change, while maintaining maximalist demands that Tehran says amount to a call for surrender.

Iran signals deterrence across multiple fronts

Iranian officials, meanwhile, have underscored that Tehran holds multiple deterrent cards. Mohammad Akbarzadeh, political deputy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, said this week that Iran possesses capabilities that will be revealed “at the appropriate time,” adding that the security of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, is contingent on decisions taken in Tehran.

Against this backdrop of escalating threats, military deployments, and psychological pressure, the Iranian source stressed that Tehran will not negotiate under coercion, warning that any miscalculation by Washington would carry consequences designed to permanently alter US strategic thinking in the region.

Source: english.almayadeen.net

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