US-Iran tensions live: US-Iran nuclear talks resume in Geneva amid Donald Trump’s warning to ‘never allow’
US Iran tensions live updates: The United States and Iran are scheduled to meet in Geneva on Thursday for the third round of nuclear talks this month, as US President Donald Trump stepped up military pressure and reiterated his warning that Washington will not allow Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons.
The latest round of indirect talks comes amid a significant US military buildup in the Middle East. The two sides are attempting to break a decades-long standoff over Iran’s nuclear program – which Washington, Western powers and Israel believe aims to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran has consistently denied the accusation and says its program is for peaceful purposes.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to take part in discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, a US official told news agency Reuters. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi will once again mediate the talks, following the previous round held in Geneva last week.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi is also expected to be in Geneva during the talks, as he was last week, to hold discussions with both delegations.
America-Iran diplomacy under pressure
The talks are going on in a tense backdrop. In June last year, the United States joined Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear sites. Since then, Iran has warned that it would retaliate strongly if attacked again.
Trump, who is serving his second term as US President after winning the 2025 election, addressed the issue during his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday. He made it clear that diplomacy is his preferred path, but military action is an option.
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 to possess nuclear weapons.”
He reiterated the warning in no uncertain terms: “But one thing is certain. I will never allow the number one sponsor of terror in the world, which they still are, to have nuclear weapons. Can’t let that happen.”
Trump also said Iran “wants to make a deal”, but added that Washington has not yet heard what he called “the secret word” – a firm declaration that “we will never build nuclear weapons.”
Earlier, on February 19, Trump had set a strict deadline, saying Iran must reach an agreement within 10 to 15 days or face consequences, warning that “really bad things” would happen otherwise.
Tehran signals flexibility, but draws red lines
On behalf of the Iranian side, Araqchi has said that any agreement is possible only if diplomacy is given priority. “A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority,” Arracchi said in a statement on X.
He also stressed that Iran wants a “fair” and quick deal, but that it will not give up its right to peaceful nuclear technology.
Big stake for Iran
According to a Reuters report on Sunday, Tehran has offered new concessions in exchange for sanctions relief and formal recognition of its right to enrich uranium.
Yet significant shortcomings remain. A senior Iranian official told Reuters the two sides were still deeply divided over issues including the scope and sequence of relief from crippling US sanctions.
The stakes are high for both governments. Inside Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is in what analysts describe as one of the most challenging periods of his 36-year rule. The Iranian economy is under severe pressure from tight sanctions, while renewed protests followed major unrest and a bloody crackdown in January.
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The latest round of indirect talks comes amid a significant US military buildup in the Middle East. The two sides are attempting to break a decades-long standoff over Iran’s nuclear program – which Washington, Western powers and Israel believe aims to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran has consistently denied the accusation and says its program is for peaceful purposes.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to take part in discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, a US official told news agency Reuters. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi will once again mediate the talks, following the previous round held in Geneva last week.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi is also expected to be in Geneva during the talks, as he was last week, to hold discussions with both delegations.
America-Iran diplomacy under pressure
The talks are going on in a tense backdrop. In June last year, the United States joined Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear sites. Since then, Iran has warned that it would retaliate strongly if attacked again.
Trump, who is serving his second term as US President after winning the 2025 election, addressed the issue during his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday. He made it clear that diplomacy is his preferred path, but military action is an option.
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 to possess nuclear weapons.”
He reiterated the warning in no uncertain terms: “But one thing is certain. I will never allow the number one sponsor of terror in the world, which they still are, to have nuclear weapons. Can’t let that happen.”
Trump also said Iran “wants to make a deal”, but added that Washington has not yet heard what he called “the secret word” – a firm declaration that “we will never build nuclear weapons.”
Earlier, on February 19, Trump had set a strict deadline, saying Iran must reach an agreement within 10 to 15 days or face consequences, warning that “really bad things” would happen otherwise.
Tehran signals flexibility, but draws red lines
On behalf of the Iranian side, Araqchi has said that any agreement is possible only if diplomacy is given priority. “A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority,” Arracchi said in a statement on X.
He also stressed that Iran wants a “fair” and quick deal, but that it will not give up its right to peaceful nuclear technology.
Big stake for Iran
According to a Reuters report on Sunday, Tehran has offered new concessions in exchange for sanctions relief and formal recognition of its right to enrich uranium.
Yet significant shortcomings remain. A senior Iranian official told Reuters the two sides were still deeply divided over issues including the scope and sequence of relief from crippling US sanctions.
The stakes are high for both governments. Inside Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is in what analysts describe as one of the most challenging periods of his 36-year rule. The Iranian economy is under severe pressure from tight sanctions, while renewed protests followed major unrest and a bloody crackdown in January.
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February 26, 2026 8:20:12 am First
US-Iran tension live updates: Talks resume after first round in Oman, Geneva
US-Iran tensions live updates: The current round of diplomacy follows two previous meetings this month. The United States and Iran held talks for the first time in Oman, which is brokering the talks, before convening a second round of meetings in Geneva last week.
An earlier effort to negotiate last June failed dramatically when Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran, triggering a 12-day war. Washington briefly joined the conflict and attacked Iranian nuclear sites.
February 26, 2026 8:17:49 am First
US-Iran tension live updates: Trump claims Iran is developing missiles that can reach US, Tehran responds
US-Iran tensions live updates: In his State of the Union address, US President Donald Trump stepped up his rhetoric against Tehran, accusing Iran of “pursuing terrifying nuclear ambitions”.
He went on to claim that Iran “already has developed missiles that can threaten our bases in Europe and abroad, and they are working on creating missiles that will soon reach the United States.”
Iran immediately rejected the allegations. The Iranian Foreign Ministry described Trump’s claims as a “big lie” and refuted suggestions that Tehran was building intercontinental missile capabilities aimed at the US mainland.
Based on Iran’s own public disclosures, its missiles have a maximum range of approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi). The US Congressional Research Service has estimated their range to be about 3,000 kilometres, still less than a third of the distance to the continental United States, AFP reports.
February 26, 2026 7:59:22 am First
US-Iran tension live updates: Key players to attend Geneva nuclear talks today
US-Iran tensions live updates: The upcoming round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva will bring together senior representatives from both sides along with key international mediators.
From the US side, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to participate in the discussions. An American official told news agency Reuters that President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will also be present.
Iran will be represented by its Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who is leading Tehran’s diplomatic involvement in the renewed talks.
Oman will once again play the role of mediator, with Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi facilitating indirect talks. Muscat has been the center of backchannel diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, including the last round held in Geneva last week.
Additionally, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi is expected to be in Geneva during the talks. Grossi is likely to hold discussions with both delegations, as he did last week.
