Iran announced the beginning of the third phase of the conflict with the United States and Israel

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on January 28 that the country was entering the third phase of the conflict with the United States and Israel.

"There are three phases in total so far. The first phase was a 12-day war, the second was riots just seven months after the end of the war. We are now entering the third phase," TASS quoted him as saying.

As Gharibabadi noted, Tehran did not support military clashes earlier, and it does not support them now. However, the Iranian government considers it necessary to be able to "stand up for themselves" and will subsequently strengthen its defense, even if progress is made in the diplomatic arena.

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