Iran-US tensions highlights: Tehran poses ‘very grave threat' to US, says Rubio ahead of Geneva talks

Iran-US tensions highlights: Amid growing fears of an American strike and the US military buildup in the region, Iranian and US officials are set to sit down for another round of negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Iran-US tensions highlights: US President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress where he dubbed Iran as 'World's no.1 sponsor of terrorism'.(Getty Images via AFP)

Iran-US tensions highlights: Updates to this blog have ended, track latest updates here. Iran and the United States are set to resume negotiations in a fresh round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying that the talks will largely focus on “nuclear programme”. ...Read More

 

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• Feb 26, 2026 06:43 am IST

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  Updates to this blog have ended. Track latest updates here

• Feb 26, 2026 04:55 am IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran trying to achieve intercontinental ballistic missiles, says Rubio

  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Iran is trying to achieve intercontinental ballistic missiles. He said that it would be a "big problem" if Tehran does not negotiate missiles.

Feb 26, 2026 04:54 am IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Thursday talks largely focused on nuclear programme, says Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the talks between Iran and the United States on Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland, will be "largely focused on nuclear programme".
He further stated that Iran poses conventional weapons that are designed to attack America.
Feb 26, 2026 04:50 am IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran poses very grave threat to the US, says Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Iran poses a "very grave threat" to the United States, and has for a very long time.
"Iran is not enriching right now but they're trying to get to the point where they ultimately can," he added.
Feb 26, 2026 04:09 am IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: US sees proof Tehran is trying to rebuild nuclear weapon, says JD Vance
US Vice President JD Vance said that Washington sees evidence that Iran is trying to rebuild its nuclear programme after the US-led strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in June last year.
"The principle is very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," Vance told reporters ahead of a fresh round of talks between the US and Iran in Geneva, Switzerland.
Feb 26, 2026 03:44 am IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iranian gas supplies resume to Iraq, says ministry
Iranian gas supplies have resumed to Iraq with a rate of 7 million cubic feet per day, said the spokesperson for the Iraqi electricity ministry.
Iraq reportedly had said that Iranian gas supply in December, owing to shutdown of some generating units and load shedding at others
Feb 26, 2026 02:40 am IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: US VP warns Tehran to take US threats 'seriously'
US Vice President JD Vance told Iran on Wednesday to take Washington's threats of military strike "seriously", a day after President Donald Trump appeared to build the case for war in his State of the Union address.
Vance said that while Trump was going to try to get Iran to make a deal "diplomatically", the US President also had the "right" to use military action.
"You can't let the craziest and worst regime in the world have nuclear weapons," Vance told "America's Newsroom" on Fox News.
Feb 26, 2026 02:00 am IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Tehran negotiators arrive in Geneva for fresh round of talks with US
An Iranian delegation arrived in Geneva on Wednesday for talks with the US, as the Islamic Republic's president struck an upbeat tone about the prospect of a negotiated agreement to avert fresh conflict, AFP reported.
Feb 26, 2026 01:36 am IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Hezbollah sets 'red line' over any attack against Khamenei
Hezbollah said that it would not intervene militarily in the event of "limited" US strikes on its ally Iran, but would consider any attack against Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a "red line".
"In the event of limited US strikes on Iran, Hezbollah's position will be to not intervene militarily," a Hezbollah official told AFP.
Feb 26, 2026 12:41 am IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Tehran accused Trump of 'big lies' ahead of Geneva talks
Ahead of the fresh round of talks in Geneva, Iran has slammed President Donald Trump's pressure tactics, calling his remarks "big lies" and also saying negotiations may yield an agreement through "honourable diplomacy".
Feb 25, 2026 11:42 pm IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Any Tehran nuclear deal should last indefinitely, says Trump envoy
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly told a private gathering that the US is demanding any nuclear deal with Iran should remain in effect indefinitely, Axios reported, citing a US official and two others familiar with the matter.
Feb 25, 2026 11:22 pm IST
Iran-US tensions LIVE: Trump slaps new sanctions on Tehran ahead of Geneva talks
The Trump administration on Wednesday imposed a fresh set of sanctions on people and companies accused of enabling Iran's ballistic missile programme, drone production and illegal oil sales as the US continues to pressure Tehran to make a deal ahead of the resumption of talks in Geneva on Thursday.
The sanctions against 30 people, companies and ships come as President Donald Trump has deployed US warships and aircraft carriers in the region in decades, threatening to use military action if Iran fails to make a nuclear deal.
Feb 25, 2026 10:31 pm IST
Iran-US tensions live: JD Vance says Trump still favors the diplomatic path with Iran ahead of talks
Iran-US tensions live: "We're sitting down having another round of diplomatic talks with the Iranians trying to reach a reasonable settlement," said US Vice President JD Vance.
Feb 25, 2026 08:43 pm IST
Iran-US tensions live: US issues fresh Iran-related sanctions
Iran-US tensions live: US issues fresh Iran-related sanctions, stated US department of treasury website.
Feb 25, 2026 07:51 pm IST
Iran-US tensions live: Hezbollah says it won’t enter conflict if the US launches ‘limited’ strikes on Iran
Iran-US tensions live: Hezbollah says it won’t enter conflict if the US launches ‘limited’ strikes on Iran
Feb 25, 2026 06:22 pm IST
Iran-US tensions live: Tehran delegation heads to Geneva for third round of negotiations
Iran-US tensions live: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his negotiating team departed Tehran for Geneva on Wednesday, state television reported, ahead of a third round of talks with the United States.
Washington and Tehran have already completed two rounds of Oman-mediated negotiations focused on securing an agreement over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Feb 25, 2026 04:33 pm IST
Iran-US tensions live: Turkey reviews contingency plans amid Iran-US tensions, rules out violating Iran’s sovereignty
Iran-US tensions live: Turkey is assessing potential measures in case tensions between neighboring Iran and the United States escalate into open conflict, a Turkish diplomatic source said.
The source noted that Ankara was evaluating various scenarios to safeguard Turkish citizens in the event of a “negative development,” while emphasizing that any action infringing upon Iran’s sovereignty was not under consideration.
Turkey, which shares a border with Iran and is a NATO member, has consistently opposed military intervention and called for a diplomatic resolution.
Feb 25, 2026 03:58 pm IST
Iran-US tensions live: Iran's parliament speaker warns US of ‘decisive response’ if military action taken during talks
Iran-US tensions live: Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Tehran would respond forcefully if the United States resorts to military action amid ongoing negotiations.
“If Washington decides on military action during negotiations, it will face a decisive and strong response from our forces,” Ghalibaf said in remarks broadcast on state television.
He added that Iran has never sought nuclear weapons and “will not do so.”
Feb 25, 2026 02:24 pm IST
Iran-US tensions live: Iran alleges US-Israel disinformation campaign, rejects nuclear claims
Iran-US tensions live: Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei quoted “law of propaganda coined by Nazi Joseph Goebbels,” in a post on X on Wednesday and said, “This is now systematically used by the US administration and the war profiteers encircling it, particularly the genocidal Israeli regime, to serve their sinister disinformation & misinformation campaign against the Nation of Iran.”
“Whatever they're alleging in regards to Iran's nuclear program, Iran's ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January's unrest is simply the repetition of 'big lies',” he added.
Feb 25, 2026 02:19 pm IST
Iran-US tensions live: IAEA chief warns force may follow if US-Iran talks collapse
Iran-US tensions live: Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that failure to secure an agreement between the United States and Iran could raise the possibility of military action.
Speaking to RTVC Noticias, Grossi stressed that a diplomatic deal remains the best path to avoid further disruption, casualties, and instability in the region. He said the central objective is to ensure there are no nuclear weapons in Iran without resorting to violence.
Grossi also cautioned that lingering uncertainty over Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile heightens the risks. He noted that the IAEA has been unable to resume inspections of Iran’s enriched uranium since last year’s 12-day war.
While he clarified that the absence of inspections does not indicate the existence of nuclear weapons, he warned that the lack of monitoring could lead to “dramatic decisions.” Grossi made the remarks in a conversation with RTVC Noticias director William Parra after visiting Colombia and ahead of talks scheduled in Geneva.
Feb 25, 2026 01:32 pm IST
Iran-US tensions live: Deal ‘within reach’ if diplomacy is prioritised, says Iran FM ahead of Geneva talks
Iran-US tensions live: Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that a potential agreement with the United States aimed at averting conflict “is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority,” ahead of what would be the third round of bilateral talks this month.
In a post on X, he wrote, “Pillared on the understandings forged in the previous round, Iran will resume talks with the US in Geneva with a determination to achieve a fair and equitable deal--in the shortest possible time. Our fundamental convictions are crystal clear: Iran will under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon; neither will we Iranians ever forgo our right to harness the dividends of peaceful nuclear technology for our people. We have a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests. A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority. We have proven that we will stop at nothing to guard our sovereignty with courage. We bring the same courage to the negotiating table, where we will pursue a peaceful resolution to any differences.”
The remarks come on the eve of the next round of talks in Geneva.
Feb 25, 2026 01:15 pm IST
Iran-US tensions live: Iran dismisses Trump's claims on missiles, nuclear programme
Iran-US tensions live: Following Trump's claims on Iran's missile programme and its ‘sinister nuclear ambitions’, Iran has rejected the allegations and dubbed them as big lies. "Whatever they're alleging in regards to Iran's nuclear programme, Iran's ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January's unrest, is simply the repetition of 'big lies'," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on X.
Feb 25, 2026 12:53 pm IST
Iran-US tensions live: Indian students in Iran in dilemma as exam dates clash with evacuation advisory
Iran-US tensions live: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has urged the Ministry of External Affairs to intervene and seek postponement of key medical examinations for Indian students in Iran, following an advisory asking Indian nationals to leave the country due to the evolving security situation. Amid tensions of a military confrontation between Iran and the US, Indian embassy in Tehran on Monday issued an advisory asking nationals in the country - students, pilgrims, business visitors etc., - to leave by available means of transport, including commercial flights.
Read complete story here
Feb 25, 2026 11:54 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: PM Modi in Israel as tension between US, Iran lingers
Iran-US tensions live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Israel as tensions between Iran and US continue to simmer. By making his second trip to Israel at the time when tensions between US and Iran are at the highest, PM Modi is sending a signal to the world. India always stands up with friends. Read full story here
Feb 25, 2026 11:40 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: Iran defence minister's decisive response remark
Iran-US tensions live: As the US-Iran tensions continue to simmer for weeks now, Iran's defence minister said that Iran will not tolerate any encroachment that “jeopardizes the sovereignty of regional nations.” “While Iran does not seek conflict, it will respond decisively should war be imposed upon it,” Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iran's defence minister, was quoted as saying by Press TV.
Feb 25, 2026 11:17 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: Iran and US both talk about solution via diplomacy
Iran-US tensions live: While the stalemate over Iran's nuclear weapons continues, Iran and US have played up the proposal to solve the confrontation via diploamcy. While Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that a deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority, Trump in his address at the joint Congress session said his preference is to solve the issue diplomatically.
Feb 25, 2026 11:14 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: Iran says “deal within reach”
Iran-US tensions live: Ahead of fresh round of talks in Geneva on Thursday, Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that a “deal is within the reach”.
“We have a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests. A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority,” Araghchi wrote on X.
Feb 25, 2026 11:07 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: Iran highlights from Trump's speech
Iran-US tensions live: Trump's remarks on Tuesday (local time) on tensions with Iran appeared to dial down the fears of US's military action against Iran. However, the status quo over Iran's nuclear weapons continues. Here is what Trump said:
"My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world's number one sponsor of terror, which they are, by far, to have a nuclear weapon. Can't let that happen."
Feb 25, 2026 10:36 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: Fresh round of talks tomorrow in Geneva
Iran-US tensions live: Iran and the US will hold negotiations again in Geneva on Thursday, February 26 as stalemate over Iran's nuclear weapons continues.
Feb 25, 2026 10:19 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: What Trump said on Iran's nuclear weapons
Iran-US tensions live: As US and Iran ties continue to be strained, Trump on Tuesday (local time) said that US strikes “obliterated Iran's nuclear weapons programme”. He spoke of the "Operation Midnight Hammer," the US airstrikes last year against Iran's nuclear strikes during a 12-day war between Israel and Iran. "After Midnight Hammer, they were warned to make no future attempts to rebuild their weapons program--yet they continue, and are at this moment again pursuing their sinister nuclear ambitions," Trump said.
Feb 25, 2026 09:38 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: They want to make a deal, says Trump on Iran
Iran-US tensions live: US President Donald Trump said that talks with Iran are on but Iran has not said anything on the nuclear deal. "We are in negotiations with them, they want to make a deal but we haven't heard those secret words: 'We will never have a nuclear weapon,'" Trump said.
Feb 25, 2026 09:31 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: What Trump said on ‘Golden Age of America’
Iran-US tensions live: In his address, Trump said "You’ve seen nothing yet. We’re going to do better and better and better. This is the Golden Age of America.”
Feb 25, 2026 09:28 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: Trump breaks record for longest State of the Union
Iran-US tensions live: US President Donald Trump has already broken the record for longest State of the Union, speaking for more than 1 hour and 41 minutes. The earlier record was held by Bill Clinton.
Feb 25, 2026 09:24 am IST
Trump speech live: Trump makes claim on Iran missiles that could hit US
Trump speech live: Trump claimed that Iran is seeking to develop missiles that can strike the United States. "They've already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they're working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America," Trump said.
Feb 25, 2026 09:14 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: Prefer to solve Iran confrontation through diplomacy, says Trump
Trump speech live: In his State of the Union, President Trump said that he prefers to solve Iran confrontation through diplomacy. This comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and US as the two set to hold final round of talks in Geneva tomorrow.
Feb 25, 2026 09:09 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: Can't let them have nuclear weapon, says Trump
Iran-US tensions live: As Trump hit out at Iran, Trump said that while he wants to resolve the problem, he cannot let them have nuclear weapons as he called Iran World's no. 1 sponsor of terrorism.
Feb 25, 2026 09:08 am IST
Trump speech live: Iran killed 32,000 people, says Trump
Trump speech live: Donald Trump claimed that Iran killed 32,000 people following the protests that broke out in Iran in December 2025.
Feb 25, 2026 09:07 am IST
Trump speech live: Trump hits out at Iran
Trump speech live: Trump hit out at Iran, calling it world's no. 1 sponsor of terrorism.
Feb 25, 2026 09:04 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: Trump repeats India-Pakistan ceasefire claim
Iran-US tensions live: Trump once again repeated the claim of brokering peace between India and Pakistan last year in May when the two countries exchanged fire along the border following India's Operation Sindoor against terror bases in Pakistan.
Feb 25, 2026 08:56 am IST
Trump speech live: What Trump said on tariffs
Trump speech live: On his tariff policy, Trump said, “Countries that were ripping us off for decades are now paying us hundreds of billions of dollars... And yet these countries are now happy, and so are we. We made deals. The deals are all done, and they're happy... There was no inflation, tremendous growth, and the big story was how Donald Trump called the economy correctly, and 22 Nobel Prize winners in economics didn't. They got it totally wrong. They got it really wrong. And then just four days ago, an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court. It just came down. Very unfortunate ruling but the good news is that almost all countries and corporations want to keep the deal that they already made."
Feb 25, 2026 08:56 am IST
Trump speech live: Trump defends his tariff policy
Trump speech live: Defending his tariff policy, Trump credited it with driving what he described as a "stunning economic turnaround," He criticised US Supreme Court's decision that struck down many of the measures. "Just four days ago, an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court. Very unfortunate ruling but the good news is that almost all countries and corporations want to keep the deal that they already made. Knowing that the legal power that I, as President, have to make a new deal could be far worse for them, and therefore, they will continue to work along the same successful path that we had negotiated before the Supreme Court's unfortunate involvement," Trump said.
Feb 25, 2026 08:52 am IST
Trump speech live: Charlie Kirk was murdered for his beliefs, says Trump
Trump speech live: Donald Trump talked about right-wing activist Charlie Kirk who was murdered last year. “Charlie Kirk was murdered for his beliefs,” Trump said. “We must all come together to reaffirm that America is one nation under God and we must totally reject political violence of any,” Trump said.
Feb 25, 2026 08:45 am IST
Trump speech live: What is SAVE America Act
Trump speech live: The House has passed the SAVE America Act, which would require birth certificates or passports to register to vote in federal elections and a photo ID at the polls.
Feb 25, 2026 08:42 am IST
Trump speech live: POTUS slams democrats
Trump speech live: “You caused that problem," Trump said as he slammed the Democrats for high costs.
Feb 25, 2026 08:38 am IST
Trump speech live: Trump calls SCOTUS ruling on tariffs ‘unfortunate’
Trump speech live: Trump slammed the YS Supreme Court's striking down of his global tariffs and termed it “very unfortunate.” He added that US trading partners "want to keep the deal that they already made... Knowing that the legal power that I as president have to make a new deal could be far worse for them."
Feb 25, 2026 08:33 am IST
Trump speech live: We’re winning so much, says Trump
Trump speech live: US President Donald Trump in his State of the Union address talked about creating jobs and said, “we’re winning so much.”
Feb 25, 2026 08:30 am IST
Trump speech live: Tariff revenues are ‘saving’ the US: POTUS
Trump speech live: At the State Union address, Trump said that the tariff revenues are ‘saving’ the US. “It’s saving our country, the kind of money we’re taking in," he said. This comes after US Supreme Court's striking down of the Trump's global tariffs last week.
Feb 25, 2026 08:20 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: Our nation is back better, says Trump
Iran-US tensions live: “Our nation is back bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before,” Trump said in his address to a joint session of Congress.
Feb 25, 2026 08:17 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: A turnaround for the ages, says Trump
Iran-US tensions live: "It is indeed a turnaround for the ages," Trump said in his speech where he plans to declare his policies have the job market and domestic manufacturing booming.
Feb 25, 2026 08:07 am IST
Iran-US tensions live: What will Trump say about Iran in his speech?
Iran-US tensions live: Amid the continued tensions with Iran, Trump's Union of Address speech makes a mention of Iran, wiothout naming it. "As president, I will make peace wherever I can -- but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must," Trump was to say, according to the excerpts published by the Associate Press.

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