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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 29, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Iranian vice president says country must ‘be prepared for state of war’
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Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref speaks during the third Caspian Economic Forum in Tehran on February 18, 2025. (ATTA KENARE / AFP)
Iran must be ready for war, its first vice president says, after the US moved an aircraft carrier to the region and did not rule out military action against Tehran over its deadly protest crackdown.
“Today we must be prepared for a state of war. Our strategy is that we will never start a war, but if it is imposed, we will defend ourselves,” First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref says, quoted by the official IRNA news agency.
He adds that Iran is “ready” for negotiations with the United States but says “this time we want guarantees,” without giving further details.
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