Iran Reportedly Used 60-Day Negotiation Window to Prepare for Wider War

Iran spent the 60-day negotiating period with the United States preparing for the possibility of a broader war, as Tehran’s hardline leadership suspected the diplomatic window was buying time for the United States and Israel, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Iranian and Arab officials said Tehran used the two-month period to strengthen the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, place hardliners in key security positions, accelerate missile and drone production, and tighten domestic counterintelligence operations.

Iran Prepares Its Regional Network

Arab intelligence services reportedly detected signs of the preparations through intercepted communications involving Iran and allied forces in Yemen and Iraq.

The IRGC also communicated plans for expanded attacks to the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen and militias in Iraq, while missile and drone launch capabilities were positioned around the Red Sea.

The Houthis threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and expanded attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including Saudi vessels and energy infrastructure.

Iran itself continued military action during the negotiating period, including a ballistic missile launch toward Jordan and an attack on a United Arab Emirates vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

An IRGC spokesman said last month that Iran had used the ceasefire period to increase the pace of missile production and improve accuracy.

Hardliners Strengthen Their Grip

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has also carried out a major restructuring of the country’s military and security establishment, strengthening the influence of hardline figures.

Former senior IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei was appointed secretary-general of the Supreme National Security Council, while Hossein Taeb, known for his role in suppressing the 2009 anti-government protests, returned to lead the Basij militia.

New IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi was tasked with carrying out powerful offensive operations against Iran’s enemies.

Cyber Disruption and Ground Operations Considered

Iranian military planners reportedly examined options extending beyond missile and drone attacks. Those scenarios included preemptive strikes, damaging internet cables in the Persian Gulf, fueling political instability in Kuwait and Bahrain, and even considering a ground operation against Kuwait.

The preparations point to Tehran’s continued willingness to threaten neighboring states while rebuilding military capabilities damaged by U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Iran Rebuilds After U.S. and Israeli Strikes

Although American and Israeli strikes inflicted serious damage on Iran’s military and economic infrastructure, Tehran has been restoring damaged facilities faster than expected and regaining access to missile bases.

Iran is effectively maintaining a wartime posture as its leadership prepares for the possibility of additional American military action.

With negotiations stalled and Tehran continuing its escalation, President Donald Trump is watching whether sanctions and economic pressure from a U.S. naval blockade can force Iran to change course.

Iran’s leadership, however, remains deeply suspicious of Washington and appears to be preparing for a prolonged confrontation.

“Iran is preparing for a great confrontation,” Mehdi Mohammadi, a strategic adviser to Iran’s senior negotiating team, said while describing the current deadlock as the “calm before the storm.”

The reported preparations underscore the continuing threat posed by Iran and its regional network. While diplomacy remained on the table, Tehran was simultaneously rebuilding weapons capabilities, strengthening the IRGC, and preparing its proxies for further escalation.