Iran-US tensions: Oman says ‘good progress’ made during nuclear talks in Geneva

US-Iran tensions live updates: Iran's Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi on Tuesday called on Iranians to attend ceremonies marking the 40th day since the deaths of protesters killed in the government crackdown, Iran International reported.

In a statement, Pahlavi said the Islamic Republic and its leader had “shed the blood of tens of thousands of Iran’s brave sons and daughters,” particularly on January 8 and 9, leaving many families in mourning.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Iran on Tuesday began military drills in the Strait of Hormuz amid talks with US in Geneva. Iran said that the missiles launched inside Iran and along its coast had struck their targets in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran previously held a live fire drill in the Strait of Hormuz several weeks ago but did not announce closures.

US-Iran tensions live updates: The US and Iranian delegations taking part in talks between the two countries in Geneva on Tuesday have left the venue at the Omani ambassador's residence, an AFP journalist reported.

A US convoy of about 10 cars departed the residence at around 12:45 GMT, AFP reported.

US-Iran tensions live updates: The second round of talks between Iran and US ended on Tuesday. Trump administration is seeking a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program and ensure it does not develop nuclear weapons. Iran says it is not pursuing weapons and has so far resisted demands that it halt uranium enrichment or hand over its supply of uranium.

The US and Iran were in the middle of months of meetings when Israel’s launch of a 12-day war against Iran back in June instantly halted the talks.

US-Iran tensions live updates: US, Iran delegations left the Omani ambassador's residence after the second round of talks concluded on Tuesday.

The talks reportedly went on for nearly 3 hours with a focus on Iran's nuclear programme

US-Iran tensions live updates: The second round of talks between Iran and US ended after nearly 3 hours of delebration, Associated Press reported.

The talks in Geneva, mediated by Oman, started at around 10:30 am local time. The last round of talks, held in Oman on February 6, lasted for about seven hours.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Second round of Iran-US nuclear talks concluded in Geneva on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stepped up his warnings to the US over its buildup of military forces in the Middle East.

On Tuesday amid the ongoing talks in Geneva, Khamenei said, “Of course a warship is a dangerous apparatus, but more dangerous than the warship is the weapon that can sink the warship into the depths of the sea.”

He also warned the U.S. that “forcing the result of talks in advance is a wrong and foolish job."

US-Iran tensions live updates: Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner travelled to Geneva for the new round of talks with Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Budapest on Monday, said that the US hopes to achieve a deal with Iran, despite the difficulties.

"I'm not going to prejudge these talks," Rubio said. "The president always prefers peaceful outcomes and negotiated outcomes to things," Rubio said.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Iran on Tuesday began military drills in the Strait of Hormuz amid talks with US in Geneva. Talking about closing part of Strait of Hormuz, Iran said, “Parts of the Strait of Hormuz will be closed in order to respect the principles of safety and navigation.”

Revolutionary Guards navy commander Alireza Tangsiri said the decision to completely “close the Strait of Hormuz depends on the decision of the country's leaders,” AFP reported.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Iran's Revolutionary Guards held a military drill in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday as the second round of talks continued in Geneva.

As the drills were going on, Iran said, “The main transit routes of the Strait of Hormuz are under the control of the IRGC Navy, and Iran has no red lines when it comes to safeguarding security in this region.”

US-Iran tensions live updates: Iran and the US met for a second round of nuclear talks in Switzerland on Tuesday as they seek to avoid renewed conflict in the Middle East.

• The talks in Geneva, mediated by Oman, started at around 10:30 am local time. The last round of talks, held in Oman on February 6, lasted for about seven hours.
• Iranian officials have expressed willingness to discuss their nuclear-enrichment activities, if America agrees to ease sanctions.
• Araghchi also met with his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi to present Iran’s latest position for him to convey to the US.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Iran on Tuesday announced that it will close the Strait of Hormuz, an essential international waterway, for several hours due to “safety and maritime concerns” as it conducts live fire drills.

This is the first time that Iran has closed parts of the strait since the U.S. began threatening Iran with military action.

US-Iran tensions live updates: As high-stakes nuclear negotiations resumed in Geneva on Tuesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a sharp warning to US President Donald Trump, asserting that even the most powerful military could face a devastating collapse.

The remarks came as representatives from Washington and Tehran initiated "indirect talks" aimed at resolving the long-standing nuclear dispute.

US-Iran tensions live updates: The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passageway through which ships pass for oil trade. It flows from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Oman. From there, ships can then travel to the rest of the world. The Strait sees a fifth of all oil traded pass through the tight corridor.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps began a series of military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, state media reported, a narrow and strategic waterway in the Gulf.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Iran on Tuesday said the lifting of US sanctions was an integral part of any nuclear deal with the United States, as talks between the two countries began in Geneva.

"Sanctions lifting is part and parcel of any deal on the nuclear issue," said foreign ministry spokesman Emsaeil Baqaei in a video broadcast by the English-language state-run Press TV.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Parts of the Strait of Hormuz will close for a few hours on Tuesday due to 'security precautions' for shipping safety, as the Revolutionary Guards conduct military drills in the waterway, Reuters reported.

The strait is the world's most vital oil export route, which connects the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Iran on Tuesday fired live missiles towards the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had announced a maritime military exercise on Monday in waterways that are crucial international trade routes through which 20% of the world’s oil passes.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Amid the talks between Iran and US started, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Washington could not force out his government. The republic has been ruled by clerics since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"The U.S. President says their army is the world's strongest, but the strongest army in the world can sometimes be slapped so hard it cannot get up," Reuters quoted him as saying.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Amid the ongoing talks with US related to Iran's nuclear programme, Tehran has said that lifting sanctions is an 'inseparable' part of any deal with US, AFP reported

Talks are underway in Geneva mediated by Oman, with Tehran earlier expressing cautious optimism at Washington's "more realistic" position on its nuclear programme.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei warned on Tuesday that the US warship deployed in the Gulf could be sunk, as nuclear talks between the two countries started.

"We constantly hear that they (the United States) have sent a warship toward Iran. A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is the weapon capable of sinking it," AFP quoted Khamenei as saying.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Earlier this month, the US military's Central Command issued a strongly worded warning to Iran and the Revolutionary Guard over the drill. While acknowledging Iran's “right to operate professionally in international airspace and waters,” it warned against interfering or threatening American warships or passing commercial vessels.

The command, which oversees the US Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said it “will not tolerate unsafe (Guard) actions” that could include its aircraft or vessels getting too close to American warships.

US-Iran tensions live updates: Protesters were seen waving pre-revolution flags near UN office in Geneva during Iran-US talks on Tuesday. People were carrying Iran’s pre-1979 “Lion and Sun” national flags gathered near the United Nations office in Geneva on Tuesday as a second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran took place in the city.

Mediated by Oman, the discussions between the US and Iran are aimed at averting the possibility of US military action.

US-Iran tensions live updates: IndiGo on Monday extended the cancellation of flights to and from Tbilisi, Almaty, Baku and Tashkent till March 28 due to developments related to Iran.

Earlier, the carrier had cancelled the services to these cities till February 28. IndiGo and Air India have stopped using the Iranian airspace and are flying alternative routes for their long-haul flights.

Iran-US tensions live updates: Iran has begun live-fire exercises towards the Strait of Hormuz, several Iranian news agencies reported. The semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is close to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said missiles launched inside Iran and along its coast and islands struck their targets in the Strait of Hormuz.