3 months ago
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived successful Geneva for a 2nd circular of atomic talks with the U.S. and method discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) amid heightened tensions successful the Persian Gulf, arsenic Washington has sent a 2nd craft bearer to the region, threatening to usage unit against the Islamic Republic if diplomacy fails.
While the U.S. and Iran are expected to clasp talks, mediated by Oman, successful the Swiss metropolis connected Tuesday (February 17, 2026), the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) person started subject drills adjacent the Strait of Hormuz, a cardinal chokepoint that connects the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea done the Gulf of Oman.
“I americium successful Geneva with existent ideas to execute a just and equitable deal. What is not connected the table: submission earlier threats,” Mr. Araghchi wrote successful a societal media post. IAEA main Rafael Grossi aboriginal said helium had “in-depth method discussions” with Mr. Aragchi up of Tuesday’s “important negotiations”.
Iran suspended entree for the IAEA to its cardinal atomic facilities aft Israel and the U.S. bombed them successful June 2025.
Mr. Araghchi had met Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s West Asia envoy, and different officials for atomic talks connected February 6 successful Muscat, Oman’s capital, and agreed to proceed discussions. Last week, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said successful an interrogation that Iran was consenting to marque compromise for a atomic woody if the U.S. is “sincere”.
Meanwhile, the IRGC connected Monday started “live-fire intensive drills” named ‘Smart Control of Hormuz Strait’ nether the supervision of main commandant Major General Mohammed Pakpour. The drills purpose to trial the readiness of the IRGC Navy’s operational units and reappraisal enactment programmes and scenarios successful the look of “possible information and subject threats” successful the strategical Strait of Hormuz, reported state-run Press TV. “A rapid, decisive, and broad effect by the IRGC’s operational forces successful the look of anti-security plots successful the maritime arena is astatine the halfway of the operational exercises of the units participating successful the drill,” it said.
This is the 2nd subject workout the IRGC Navy is conducting since tensions started rising betwixt Iran and the U.S. past month. Early this month, the U.S. changeable down an Iranian drone that the U.S. Navy said was approaching USS Abraham Lincoln, an craft carrier, successful the Arabia Sea. The U.S. has deployed F35 combatant jets, warships, destroyers and substance tankers, too the Lincoln, to the region. Mr. Trump has besides said a 2nd craft bearer would scope West Asia’s waters “soon”.
On Sunday, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi said immoderate U.S. subject actions would beryllium met with retaliatory attacks. “Trump should cognize that helium would beryllium entering a confrontation that gives harsh lessons, the result of which would guarantee that helium nary longer makes threats astir the world,” Gen. Mousavi said.
