World · Singapore Bureau
Iran prepares escalated response to US military action amid faltering talks
Tehran is planning a more substantial military response should Washington resume large-scale attacks, sources indicate, even as diplomatic efforts continue with limited prospects for success. Iranian officials privately acknowledge the slim chances of negotiated resolution.
LSN Singapore ·

Iran is preparing a more substantial and forceful military response should the United States resume significant military operations, according to sources briefed on Tehran's planning. The readiness measures come as Iranian officials continue diplomatic overtures, though privately expressing scepticism about the likelihood of achieving a negotiated settlement.
The dual-track approach reflects Tehran's strategy of maintaining both defensive military preparations while keeping diplomatic channels nominally open. Officials in Iran have indicated internally that current negotiation efforts face considerable obstacles, with deep disagreements on core issues remaining unresolved.
The escalation in Iranian military preparations suggests heightened tensions in the region following recent military exchanges between the two countries. Any renewed large-scale US military action would likely trigger a response significantly broader in scope than previous Iranian retaliatory strikes, sources indicated.
Diplomacy between Washington and Tehran has long been strained, with both sides maintaining hardline positions on key issues. Iranian officials' private assessments suggest little common ground remains for breakthrough negotiations in the near term, even as both parties maintain public commitments to pursuing diplomatic channels.