Breaking in Iran! U.S. State Department: Leave Immediately! Oil and gold stage a collective counterattack!

The situation in Iran does not seem to be improving!

According to CCTV News, on February 5th Eastern Time, the U.S. State Department issued a security warning through the “Virtual U.S. Embassy in Tehran” stating that security controls across Iran are being continuously strengthened, and the situation remains tense. The U.S. urges American citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible on their own and to develop departure plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance. If immediate departure is not possible, they should seek safety locally, stock necessary supplies, avoid demonstrations, and stay low profile.

Meanwhile, according to a statement released by Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, around 10:00 AM Oman local time (2:00 PM Beijing time) today (February 6th), Iran and the United States will hold nuclear talks in the capital of Oman.

It is worth noting that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated during a discussion at the Knesset Foreign and Defense Committee on February 5th local time that Israel is prepared to launch “very severe strikes” against Iran.

The US and Israel Still Seem to Be Preparing for an Attack

Currently, the U.S. and Iran are engaged in negotiations. On the evening of February 5th, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bagheri announced that Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi has led a diplomatic delegation to Muscat, the capital of Oman, to conduct negotiations with the U.S. on nuclear issues. Bagheri issued a statement on social media saying that this diplomatic contact aims to “reach a fair, mutually recognized, and decent understanding on nuclear issues.”

Bagheri stated that Iran has always kept in mind painful past experiences, including violations of the Iran Nuclear Deal, military invasions in June last year, and recent external interference in Iran’s situation. “We have always consciously taken on the responsibility of defending the rights of the Iranian people; at the same time, we also have the responsibility not to give up any opportunity to safeguard national interests, regional peace, and stability through diplomatic means.”

However, the U.S. and Israel still seem to be preparing for an attack.

On one hand, the U.S. State Department urges American citizens to leave Iran quickly on their own. U.S. President Trump told NBC that the U.S. has discovered Iran is considering establishing new nuclear facilities elsewhere. He warned that if Iran proceeds with this, the U.S. will take action, and Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei “should be highly alert”;

On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated during a discussion at the Knesset Foreign and Defense Committee on February 5th that Israel is ready to launch “very severe strikes” against Iran. It is reported that the current level and intensity of strike preparedness “will far exceed last June’s actions against Iran.” He also said that Israel and the U.S. maintain close communication on Iran.

Possibly influenced by this news, this morning, spot gold prices turned higher, currently at $4,777.31 per ounce, rebounding more than $100 from the daily low of $4,655.31, which was reached earlier. Spot silver rose over 1% intraday, after falling more than 8% earlier. International oil prices also shifted from decline to rise, with Brent crude increasing from $66.9 to $67.5.

Iran’s Actions

Iran has not shown weakness. According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency on the 5th, Iranian Army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia warned that U.S. military bases in the Middle East are highly vulnerable to attack.

Akraminia said Iran is fully prepared to respond to any situation. “We can easily access U.S. military bases, which increases their vulnerability.”

Akraminia stated that U.S. leadership must choose between compromise and war, and Iran’s military preparations cover both possibilities. He warned that any potential U.S. actions could escalate into conflicts across the region, including U.S. military bases within the region.

Regarding the deployment of 1,000 strategic drones into Iran’s four military branches, Akraminia said this demonstrates Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared to defend the country. He also mentioned that other defense systems have been upgraded and are fully operational.

On the evening of the 4th local time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced an underground missile facility and displayed the “Khoramshahr-4” ballistic missile, one of Iran’s most advanced missile systems, which has entered operational deployment.

The “Khoramshahr-4” missile has a range of 2,000 kilometers, a warhead weight of 1,500 kilograms, and a accuracy of about 30 meters. It is a key pillar of Iran’s “active deterrence.” The missile can reach speeds of Mach 16 outside the atmosphere and about Mach 8 upon re-entry, significantly reducing enemy air defense response time and enhancing stealth capabilities through various technical means.

Additionally, according to AFP on February 5th, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported on the 4th that Iran’s IRGC seized two oil tankers carrying foreign crew members in the Persian Gulf, citing “smuggling fuel” as the reason. The flags of the ships and the nationalities of the crew have not yet been confirmed. This seizure occurred amid heightened regional tensions. Previously, Iran took a tough stance against anti-government protests, and the U.S. subsequently dispatched naval forces to the region.

(Source: Securities Times)