Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves during a meeting with the Iranian people in Tehran on February 1, 2026. Image Credit: AFP
IranSupreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Sunday (Feb 1, 2026) that any US strike on the country would be a regional war, as Tehran and Washington confirmed that talks were progressing amid regional efforts to ease tensions.
“If the Americans start a war, they should know that this time it will be a regional war,” Mr Khamenei told a gathering at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Hosseinia, which is part of the Supreme Leader’s office. “We are not the initiator of war. We do not try to crush anyone. We do not try to attack any country. However, anyone who tries to attack or harm will face a decisive blow from the Iranian nation,” Mr Khamenei said.
His comments, posted on social media, came as US warships, fighter jets and an aircraft carrier were sent to West Asian waters amid threats of a strike on Iran. US President Donald Trump He said last week that “time is running out for Iran” to reach a deal on its nuclear program, adding that a “massive fleet” was moving toward Iran and that it was “ready to use violence” if necessary.
Mr Khamenei played down Mr Trump’s threats and the deployment of US forces near Iran’s shores. “Americans sometimes talk about war – saying we will come with warships and planes – is nothing new. The nation of Iran is not affected by such talks. They should not try to threaten the nation of Iran with such things,” he added.
In recent days, Iranian officials have warned that any US attack on Iran would not be a limited war. But at the same time, Tehran has signaled it is still open to diplomacy. Earlier on Sunday (February 1, 2026), Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said talks between the two sides were progressing. Tehran’s influential Mr Larijani, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on January 30, wrote on social media that “contrary to media war propaganda, constructive arrangements for talks are progressing”.
US President Trump has also confirmed that talks are underway. “He’s talking to us. He’s talking to us seriously,” Mr. Trump told reporters in Washington on Sunday.
Regional countries such as Oman, Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are pushing for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Turkey says it does not support any military action against Iran. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, two US allies in the Persian Gulf, would not allow the use of their airspace for a strike against Iran. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met Mr Larijani in Tehran on Saturday (January 31, 2026) to discuss “efforts to reduce tensions in the region”.
The prime minister reiterated Qatar’s “support for all efforts aimed at reducing tensions and achieving peaceful solutions that increase security and stability in the region,” the ministry said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was in Turkey to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on January 29, said Iran was open to a “fair and equitable” nuclear deal.
“Iran has never sought nuclear weapons and is ready to accept a fair and equitable nuclear deal that serves the legitimate interests of our people; this includes guaranteeing ‘no nuclear weapons’ and the lifting of sanctions,” Mr Araghchi wrote on social media after meeting Mr Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. “Iran is always ready to engage with regional states to protect peace and stability in our region and defend against illegal aggression,” he said.
Published – February 01, 2026 04:38 pm IST
