Iran First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref said the country would not initiate a war, but would respond decisively if attacked. The remarks landed as tensions in the Middle East remained elevated, and crypto markets reacted quickly, with Bitcoin dropping below $86,000 and Ether slipping under $2,900 toward $2,800.
Aref repeats Iran’s position on military conflict
According to the report, Aref made the comments on January 29, 2026, saying the current government has maintained a high level of military readiness since taking office. He stated that Iran would not be the side to start a war, yet any act of aggression would be met with a firm response. He also said that the outcome of a war would not be decided by Iran’s enemies.
Aref added that Iran supports resolving disputes through dialogue and reason, but only if negotiations are backed by what he described as real and reliable guarantees. He also questioned Washington’s sincerity in past negotiations and referred to incidents in which attacks took place during talks.
Regional tensions rise as US military posture hardens
The report said the regional situation has continued to deteriorate. The United States has assembled substantial military forces in the area and has warned that Iran would face harsher consequences if it failed to comply with the nuclear agreement. Iranian officials have repeatedly said they do not seek war, but any attack would trigger retaliation stronger than expected, potentially extending beyond a single military base.
At the same time, domestic protests inside Iran and pressure from abroad have added to the strain, making the overall picture more complicated and increasing uncertainty around geopolitical risk.
Crypto prices move lower on risk-off sentiment
The shift in sentiment was reflected in digital asset prices. Alongside Bitcoin and Ether, BNB fell below $880 and SOL dropped below $120. The source report said concern over a possible escalation in the Middle East pushed investors toward risk avoidance, putting clear pressure on crypto assets.
Price action showed that geopolitical developments remain a major short-term driver for the crypto market, especially when broader macro risks and regional tensions rise at the same time.