Iran warns neighbors over US-Israel cooperation, links Hormuz security to Tehran
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- Iran’s IRGC warned neighboring countries not to allow their territory, airspace, or waters to be used against Iran, linking the Strait of Hormuz’s security to Tehran’s decisions.
- Iranian authorities reported mass arrests and weapons seizures, alleging foreign-backed efforts—including links to Mossad and the US—to destabilize the country.
- Trump confirmed a large US military deployment near Iran as Washington signals both pressure and possible diplomacy, further sharpening regional tensions.
A senior official from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday (Jan. 27, 2026) that Tehran possesses a range of strategic capabilities that would be revealed at what he called “the right moment.” He stressed that security in the Strait of Hormuz—vital to global energy trade—depends on Iran’s policy choices.
Mohammad Akbarzadeh, political deputy of the IRGC Navy, said Iran views its neighbors as friendly states. However, he warned that any use of neighboring countries’ land, airspace, or waters to launch actions against Iran would place those countries “on the side of the enemy.”
Akbarzadeh said the safety of the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most important energy shipping lanes—is fully linked to policies and decisions made in Tehran.
Separately, Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib said the country had faced multiple attempts aimed at undermining national unity and weakening the state. He said such efforts had failed.
“No threat can shake the unity of the Iranian people,” Khatib said, as quoted by Al Mayadeen.
He added that national unity remained the main foundation of Iran’s resilience and resistance in the face of threats.
Hundreds arrested, weapons seized
Meanwhile, Iran’s Intelligence Directorate in Semnan Province, in the country’s northeast, announced the arrest of 80 people accused of involvement in unrest.
In its statement, the agency said it had seized more than 100 firearms of various types, as well as bladed weapons and Molotov bombs.
In Gilan Province in northern Iran, the police command in the city of Rezvanshahr also reported the arrest of 104 people accused of stirring public anxiety and disrupting security.
The arrests followed earlier statements by Iranian authorities announcing the detention of 249 armed individuals in Yazd and Gilan provinces two days earlier. The Iranian government said the groups had links to foreign parties, including Israel’s intelligence service Mossad and the United States, which Tehran accused of seeking to destabilize Iran.
Trump confirms US military deployment
The developments come amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States. US President Donald Trump confirmed a major deployment of American forces to areas near Iran. In an interview with Axios published on Jan. 27, Trump claimed Tehran “wants to make a deal.”
His remarks came as reports pointed to the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Middle East, accompanied by F-15 and F-35 fighter jets, aerial refueling aircraft, and air defense systems. The move is widely seen as a show of force that increases Washington’s pressure on Tehran.
“We have a big armada out there near Iran,” Trump said, without detailing the military options under consideration. Axios reported the White House has continued to float the threat of military action against Iran, while also raising the possibility of regime change.
Trump also claimed Iran had repeatedly contacted the United States to discuss a deal, though the statement was not accompanied by confirmation from Iranian officials. The comments underscored mixed signals from Washington—pairing military pressure with hints of a diplomatic opening.
Indonesianpost.com | Republika
