EconoTicker

Abolfazl Zohrevand, a member of Iran’s parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said in an interview with the online program Tahririyeh Plus that in a renewed escalation the Islamic Republic would have “no considerations” for the Persian Gulf region and is ready to “take revenge” for the “12-day war.” Using explicitly threatening language, he claimed any location hosting U.S. bases would be “completely destroyed,” and argued that a U.S. failure in the region—backed by Iran’s allies Russia and China—would amount to the “end of the United States,” while also attacking President Donald Trump’s judgment.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking in the Knesset on Monday (Jan. 26, 2026 / 6 Bahman) after confirmation that Israel received the remains of the last Israeli hostage killed in Gaza, again pointed to Iran’s role in the Oct. 7 attacks and broader actions against Israel, calling Tehran the “head of the octopus.” He said Israel would remain on “full alert” against any threat from the Islamic Republic and warned that any Iranian attempt to hit Israel would be met with a decisive response, calling it “a very big mistake.”

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem warned in a televised address on Monday (Jan. 26, 2026 / 6 Bahman) that any potential attack on Iran would also put his group in the crosshairs, saying Hezbollah is “not neutral” and would decide “in due course” how to act. Qassem added that mediators have told Hezbollah the U.S. and Israel may strike it if Iran is attacked and cautioned that a new war on Iran could ignite the wider region.

The UAE said on Monday, January 26, 2026 (6 Bahman) it will not allow its airspace, territory, or territorial waters to be used for any hostile military action against Iran, reiterating a neutrality-first posture as uncertainty persists over possible U.S. action. The statement lands amid a visible U.S. buildup—Reuters reported the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group entering the Middle East region—while Fox News cited a senior U.S. official saying the strike group is close but not yet positioned for potential strikes.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani urged the European Union to add Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the EU terrorist register, arguing that the deadly crackdown on protesters requires a “clear response.” He said he will table the proposal at the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Thursday (Jan. 29) and also called for individual sanctions against those responsible. EU officials have noted that a terrorist listing requires unanimous agreement among member states and a specific legal basis, and that the bloc is not there yet—even as the EU has already imposed broad Iran-related sanctions, including measures tied to Tehran’s drone and missile activity and its role in the Ukraine war.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, speaking at a joint press statement in Baku on Monday (Jan. 26, 2026 / 6 Bahman), said the Islamic Republic is “brutally” killing and oppressing its own people and argued that a regime that treats its citizens this way should not be expected to act differently toward other countries if it obtains nuclear weapons. The visit comes amid long-running Iranian suspicions about Israel–Azerbaijan security ties and periodic claims that Azerbaijan enabled hostile operations during the prior “12-day war”—allegations that Baku has repeatedly and categorically denied, insisting its territory or airspace was not used for attacks on Iran.

Danny Citrinowicz, a senior Iran analyst at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), said a potential U.S. move against the Islamic Republic could include a naval blockade as an alternative—or complement—to direct strikes, arguing Washington’s expanded Gulf posture gives it broad operational flexibility with “all options on the table.” Citing the Jerusalem Post, he added that Israel has effectively left the lead to the U.S. and prefers Washington carry primary responsibility, even as the ultimate U.S. strategic end-state remains unclear amid mixed Trump messaging. The blockade framing also echoes recent U.S. practice in the region: Washington imposed a maritime “quarantine/blockade” approach on Venezuelan oil flows ahead of the raid that captured Nicolás Maduro, underscoring how coercive sea-control measures can be used short of (or alongside) large-scale kinetic action.

The Wall Street Journal reported that China’s most senior uniformed leader, Gen. Zhang Youxia, has been accused—during a closed-door, high-level briefing—of providing the U.S. with information related to China’s nuclear-weapons program and taking bribes in exchange for official acts, including backing an officer’s promotion to defense minister. Beijing has publicly said Zhang (and another senior officer, Gen. Liu Zhenli) is under investigation for serious violations, without detailing the allegations; analysts warn that any fall of Zhang, a central figure in PLA command, could carry implications for operational preparedness and internal stability at the top of China’s military.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán urged EU farmers to “unite” against cheap agricultural imports—specifically pointing to Ukraine (and also Mercosur)—arguing that such flows benefit traders more than producers and warning that failing to protect local agriculture risks eroding sovereignty. The remarks land amid a long-running EU dispute over Ukrainian grain imports, which has previously prompted restrictions and repeated political pushback in several member states.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić said he has heard that a draft war-ending peace plan could include Ukraine joining the European Union on January 1, 2027, but he claimed several member states—Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia—would oppose such an accelerated entry. Vučić framed the detail as information he “heard” rather than a formally published text, while broader reporting has described 2027 EU accession ideas as part of peace-plan discussions and, separately, EU deliberations over faster but potentially limited membership pathways.

Israel’s foreign minister pointed to what he described as a broad killing of protesters in Iran, calling the Islamic Republic’s actions an “unprecedented crime.” He said that since October 7, an “axis of evil” led by Iran has sought to eliminate the State of Israel, and argued that the clerical establishment is using ruthless violence against its own people who have risen up demanding freedom.

U.S. officials told Israeli counterparts during talks linked to CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper’s meetings in Tel Aviv that Washington needs more time to be fully prepared for a comprehensive, all-out conflict with the Islamic Republic, but the U.S. military logic favors a limited operation that is short, rapid, and precisely targeted—described in Israeli reporting as a “short, fast, and clean” action if a decision is made. The comments come amid intensified U.S.–Israel security coordination and a broader U.S. military buildup in the region as escalation risk remains elevated.