2026-02-01 18:00
publication
2026-02-01 18:00
The US will not launch a strike against Iran in the near future because the Pentagon is still bringing additional air defense systems to the region to protect its forces and allies, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
According to the daily, which cites American officials, an additional THAAD system battery and additional Patriot systems are being sent to US bases in Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. These are preparations in the event of a major retaliation from Iran and a long-term conflict.
WSJ sources say the U.S. could launch a limited attack on Iran at any time, but the type of large and decisive strike that President Donald Trump wants could trigger a significant Iranian response against U.S. forces in the region and U.S. regional allies, including Israel. In early January, the New York Times reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissuaded Trump from attacking Iran precisely because of his lack of preparation for possible Iranian retaliation.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday in a speech to his supporters in Tehran that January's anti-government protests, which killed thousands, were a “coup.”
“(Protesters) attacked the police, government buildings, Revolutionary Guard barracks, banks, mosques and burned the Koran… it was a real coup,” Khamenei said, adding that the attempt “failed.”
– The recent uprising was not the first in Tehran and will not be the last. Such incidents may happen again, he added. Iran was already rocked by protests in 2009 against the re-election of then president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in 2019 against fuel prices, and again in 2022 after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was detained for improperly wearing a hijab.
The leader spoke on the 47th anniversary of the return to Iran of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founding father of the Islamic Republic in 1979, whom Khamenei replaced 10 years later. The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since the revolution that overthrew the Pahlavi shah dynasty, a key U.S. ally.
Americans “want to regain control of our country” as they did under the monarchy, Khamenei told his audience.
– They controlled the resources. They controlled the oil. They controlled politics… everything was theirs, he emphasized.
Last week, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they would not allow the United States to use their airspace and territory to attack Iran. According to “WSJ”, their intention is to protect themselves from an Iranian response.
The daily also reports that the Persian Gulf countries are also preparing their own air defense. Saudi Arabia has purchased seven THAAD batteries, several of which have reportedly already been delivered.
On Saturday, Donald Trump repeated that negotiations with Iran were ongoing and that the Iranians were “seriously talking” about their nuclear program. However, he admitted that the talks could end in failure and an attack on Tehran. However, he dismissed reports that, according to the Saudi Arabian authorities, refraining from striking Tehran only emboldens the regime.
– Some people think so, some don't. If we reach a negotiated deal that is satisfactory, without nuclear weapons… they should do it, I don't know if they will do it, but they are talking to us, they are talking seriously, said the US president.
Reuters: Iran is not planning major exercises in the key strait
The naval forces of Iran's Revolutionary Guard do not plan to conduct live ammunition exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by some media, an Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday.
Iranian state television Press TV reported on Thursday that the navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will conduct live ammunition exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on February 1 and 2.
“There was no plan for the Guard to conduct military exercises there and there was no official announcement on this matter. There were only media reports, which are untrue,” said an Iranian official, quoted by Reuters on Sunday.
On Wednesday, an adviser to Iran's ruling Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Tehran would consider any US military action against itself as the beginning of a war, and in retaliation it would strike against the US, Israel and anyone supporting aggression.
On the same day, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the start of several days of exercises to check the combat readiness of its armed forces gathered in the Middle East. In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with an attack and directed, among others, aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
On Saturday, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, announced that “creation of a negotiation framework” with the United States was progressing, even though Washington did not rule out military action against Tehran.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran wants to “reach an agreement” on its nuclear program, adding that he gave Tehran an ultimatum, without providing further details. (PAP)
From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)
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