Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei raised his hand in a meeting held in Tehran. | Photo credit: Reuters
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Tuesday (Feb 17, 2026) that a US warship deployed in the Gulf could be sunk as nuclear talks between the two countries began.
“We keep hearing that they (the US) have sent a warship towards Iran. A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but a weapon capable of sinking it is even more dangerous,” Mr Khamenei said in a speech.
The US and Iran are holding their second round of talks about Iran’s nuclear program in Geneva as the US ramps up its military presence in the Middle East and Iran conducts large-scale naval exercises.
Iran begins meeting in Geneva with Omani negotiators over its nuclear program.
Iranian state TV reported on Tuesday (Feb 17) that talks with the US would be indirect and focus only on Iran’s nuclear program, not on domestic policies, including last month’s bloody crackdown on protesters.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to force Iran to agree to curb its nuclear program. Iran is retaliating with an attack of its own. Mr Trump has also threatened Iran’s brutal crackdown on recent nationwide protests.
The first round of talks was held in Oman on February 6 and was held indirectly. There was no clarity on the arrangements for Tuesday’s talks.
Mr Trump’s envoys Steve Wittkoff and Jared Kushner are traveling for a new round of talks. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who visited Budapest, Hungary, said on Monday (February 16) that the US hopes to reach an agreement with Iran no matter how many difficulties it faces.
“I’m not prejudging these negotiations,” Mr. Rubio said. “The president always prefers peaceful outcomes and negotiated outcomes over matters.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghi, who is leading the negotiations for Iran, met with the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency in Geneva on Monday.
“I am in Geneva with genuine ideas to achieve a fair and equitable agreement,” said Mr. Araghi wrote in X. “What’s Off the Table: Submission Before Threats.”
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Washington on Monday night, Mr Trump said of the US-Iran talks, “I’ll be indirectly involved in those talks – and they’re very important, and we’ll see what happens.”
(with inputs from agencies)
Published – February 17, 2026 04:50 pm IST