From the Liveblog of
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Trump unsurprised Khamenei warning that US attack will spark regional war, still hopes for deal
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US President Donald Trump responds to Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s warning that an attack from Washington could spark a regional war.
“Why wouldn’t he say that? Of course he is going to say that. We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there, very close — a couple of days [away]… Hopefully we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, we’ll find out whether or not he was right,” Trump tells reporters.
REPORTER: Khamenei said today that a U.S. attack could start a regional war.
TRUMP: Why wouldn’t he say that, of course he is going to say that… We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there, very close…Hopefully we’ll make a deal.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 1, 2026
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