The much-awaited 2026 U.S. Nationwide Protection Technique (NDS) was launched on January 23 this 12 months. It described Iran as a drastically weakened however nonetheless harmful.
Launched by the Division of Warfare, the NDS credited Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear amenities, with having “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program.
The NDS learn: Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” is devastated. Israeli operations have left Hezbollah and Hamas severely degraded. The U.S. additionally launched Operation Tough Rider, which degraded the Houthis’ strike capabilities and finally compelled the Houthis to sue for peace and cease capturing at U.S. ships, and restored freedom of navigation for U.S. vessels.
The NDS added: Though Iran suffered critical setbacks, it might rebuild its typical navy forces. Iran’s leaders have additionally left open the chance that they’ll attempt once more to acquire a nuclear weapon, together with by refusing to have interaction in significant negotiations. It added that despite the fact that Iranian proxies have been severely degraded, they might rebuild devastated infrastructure and capabilities.
Nor can we ignore the information that the Iranian regime has the blood of People on its palms, that it stays intent on destroying our shut ally Israel, and that Iran and its proxies routinely instigate regional crises that not solely threaten the lives of American servicemembers within the area but in addition forestall the area itself from pursuing the type of peaceable and affluent future that so a lot of its leaders and peoples clearly want for.
The NDS referred to as Israel a mannequin ally and referred to as to empower the Jewish nation additional to defend itself and promote shared pursuits.
Iran Proves NDS Proper?
Iran’s Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected any chance of giving up uranium enrichment in negotiations with the USA, insisting that the Islamic Republic is not going to bow to threats of battle.
Araghchi informed a discussion board in Tehran that Iran had little belief in Washington and doubted that the U.S. facet was taking renewed negotiations critically. He later stated Iran was consulting with its “strategic companions” China and Russia concerning the talks.
“Why can we insist a lot on enrichment and refuse to present it up, even when a battle is imposed on us? As a result of nobody has the appropriate to dictate our behaviour,” Araghchi stated on the discussion board.
“Their navy deployment within the area doesn’t scare us,” he added, referring to the arrival of an plane service, the united statesAbraham Lincoln, within the Arabian Sea.
The U.S. and Iran have restarted negotiations in Oman for the primary time since Israel’s 12-day battle with Iran final 12 months. Tehran needs American U.S. financial sanctions on the nation eliminated, in change for what Araghchi stated on the discussion board might be “a sequence of confidence-building measures regarding the nuclear programme”.
“They concern our atomic bomb, whereas we’re not in search of one. Our atomic bomb is the facility to say ‘no’ to the good powers,” Araghchi stated.
Israeli Overseas Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday denounced “the try by probably the most excessive regime on this planet to acquire probably the most harmful weapon on this planet”, calling it “a transparent hazard to peace”.The U.S. and Israel moreover need the negotiations to transcend the nuclear challenge and embody Iran’s ballistic missiles and assist for terror teams within the area. Tehran has refused to incorporate these issues in negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who’s scheduled to satisfy U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday — insists these two parts be included in any negotiation, his workplace stated on Saturday.
Araghchi’s feedback got here after U.S. lead negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited the nuclear-powered USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday, the U.S. navy’s Central Command (CENTCOM) stated.
In a social media submit, Witkoff stated the plane service and its strike group have been “maintaining us protected and upholding President Trump’s message of peace by power”.
The specter of battle continues to hover over the negotiations, at the same time as Trump referred to as the talks “excellent” and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian stated they “represent a step ahead”.
Following Friday’s first spherical in Oman, Trump signed an govt order calling for the “imposition of tariffs” on international locations nonetheless doing enterprise with Iran regardless of U.S. sanctions.
America additionally introduced new sanctions in opposition to quite a few transport entities and vessels, geared toward curbing Iran’s oil exports.
On the Tehran discussion board on Sunday, Araghchi questioned the USA’ dedication to diplomacy.
“The continuation of sure sanctions and navy actions raises doubts concerning the seriousness and readiness of the opposite facet to conduct real negotiations,” he stated.
“We’re monitoring the scenario intently, assessing all of the alerts, and can determine on the continuation of the negotiations.”
The talks between the 2 foes and the U.S. navy buildup within the area observe Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests that started in late December, sparked by financial grievances.
The authorities in Iran have acknowledged that 3,117 folks have been killed within the latest protests, publishing on Sunday a listing of two,986 names, most of whom they are saying have been members of the safety forces and harmless bystanders.
Worldwide organisations have put the toll far greater.
The US-based Human Rights Activists Information Company (HRANA) says it has verified 6,961 deaths, principally protesters, and has one other 11,630 circumstances beneath investigation. It has additionally counted greater than 51,000 arrests.
With Agence France-Presse (AFP) Inputs
