Iran’s top security officials say progress is being made toward negotiations with the United States, even as the Islamic republic’s military warns Washington against any potential strikes. The developments come as US forces, led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, are positioned off Iran’s coast following President Donald Trump’s warnings of intervention after Tehran’s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests.
Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, described negotiations as moving forward despite media speculation about escalating tensions. Larijani’s comments came a day after he reportedly met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that broader conflict would harm both nations. In a call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, he said: “The Islamic Republic of Iran has never sought, and in no way seeks, war and it is firmly convinced that a war would be in the interest of neither Iran, nor the United States, nor the region.”
President Trump confirmed that dialogue with Tehran is ongoing, stating on Fox News, “(Iran is) talking to us, and we’ll see if we can do something, otherwise we’ll see what happens. We have a big fleet heading out there. They are negotiating.”
Qatar has also sought to ease tensions. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s premier and foreign minister, met Larijani in Tehran to discuss regional de-escalation measures.
Despite these talks, both sides remain on alert. Iran’s army chief Amir Hatami warned that US or Israeli attacks would be met with swift retaliation. “If the enemy makes a mistake, without a doubt it will endanger its own security, the security of the region, and the security of the Zionist regime,” he said, adding that Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities “cannot be eliminated.”
Tensions are compounded by recent US sanctions and military maneuvers. CENTCOM announced that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will conduct a two-day live-fire naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy shipments. CENTCOM cautioned Iran against unsafe actions near US forces, drawing criticism from Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who called it an attempt to dictate Iran’s military exercises.
The EU recently followed the US in designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization, prompting Iran to declare the armies of European countries as terrorist groups, according to Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Meanwhile, domestic unrest continues to challenge Iran’s government. Nationwide protests over rising living costs and political grievances erupted in late December and intensified in early January. Official figures put the death toll at 3,117, while the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports more than 6,700 fatalities. Pezeshkian urged authorities to address public grievances and “serve the people,” while citizens at the Turkey-Iran border described fleeing the country to escape violence.
The situation underscores a delicate balance between diplomacy and military posturing, with both Washington and Tehran signaling willingness to negotiate while preparing for potential conflict.