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Iran’s ultimate person Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned connected Tuesday (February 17, 2026) that the U.S. warship deployed successful the Gulf could beryllium sunk, arsenic atomic talks betwixt the 2 countries started.
“We perpetually perceive that they (the U.S) person sent a warship toward Iran. A warship is surely a unsafe weapon, but even much unsafe is the limb susceptible of sinking it,” said Mr. Khamenei successful a speech.
The U.S. and Iran are holding their 2nd circular of talks astir Iran’s atomic programme successful Geneva arsenic the U.S. ramps up its subject beingness successful the Middle East and Iran holds large-scale maritime exercises.
Iran began the gathering successful Geneva with Omani mediators regarding its atomic programme.
Iranian authorities TV reported connected Tuesday (February 17) that the negotiations with the U.S. volition beryllium indirect and volition absorption lone connected Iran’s atomic programme, not home policies including its bloody crackdown connected protesters past month.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to usage unit to compel Iran to hold to constrain its atomic programme. Iran has said it would respond with an onslaught of its own. Mr. Trump has besides threatened Iran implicit its deadly crackdown connected caller nationwide protests.
The archetypal circular of talks February 6 were held successful Oman and were indirect. The arrangements for Tuesday’s circular of negotiations were not clear.
Mr. Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were travelling for the caller circular of talks. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Budapest, Hungary, said connected Monday (February 16) that the U.S. hopes to execute a woody with Iran, contempt the difficulties.
“I’m not going to prejudge these talks,” Mr. Rubio said. “The President ever prefers peaceful outcomes and negotiated outcomes to things.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is starring the talks for Iran, met with the caput of the UN atomic watchdog bureau Monday successful Geneva.
“I americium successful Geneva with existent ideas to execute a just and equitable deal,” Mr. Araghchi wrote connected X. “What is not connected the table: submission earlier threats.”
Talking to reporters connected Monday nighttime aboard Air Force One connected his mode to Washington, Mr. Trump said of the U.S.-Iran talks, “I’ll beryllium progressive successful those talks – indirectly – and they’ll beryllium precise important, and we’ll spot what tin happen.”
(With inputs from agencies)
