[Regnum] Iran is entering the third phase of its conflict with the United States and Israel. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated this on January 28, commenting on US President Donald Trump's threats against Tehran.
"The first phase was the 12-day war, the second was the unrest just seven months after the war ended. Now we are entering the third phase," he explained.
Gharibabadi added that the US has changed tactics, but will suffer the same defeat in this phase as in the previous two. Iran, the Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized, has never wanted war and does not want one now, but believes it is necessary to be able to defend itself and will not stop strengthening its defenses, even after diplomatic progress is achieved.
On January 28, Trump stated that he expected Iran to begin nuclear talks as soon as possible, as time was running out. He stated that a large naval task force, led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, was en route to Iran. The US Navy is capable of carrying out this task "with force, if necessary," the American leader added. Trump also stated that if negotiations were to fail, the consequences would be far more severe than before, recalling past US military actions against Iran and warning that "the next blow will be much stronger." Furthermore, Trump stated that the US Navy is prepared to act against Iran in the same way it did against Venezuela.