Iran-US Tensions Live News Updates: Indirect talks between Iran and the United States got underway Thursday, February 26, in Geneva. Oman’s Foreign Ministry published images of US special Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Bader al-Busaidi. The location appeared to be the Omani diplomatic residence in Geneva along the shores of Lake Geneva.
Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated the country’s opposition to developing nuclear weapons. He stated that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has banned weapons of mass destruction, which “clearly means Tehran won’t develop nuclear weapons”. Khamenei, who has the last say on Tehran’s nuclear programme, banned the development of nuclear weapons in a fatwa, or religious decree, in the early 2000s.
Story continues below this ad
‘Can’t let the worst regime in the world have nuclear weapons,’ says Vance: US Vice President JD Vance, ahead of the key US-Iran talks in Geneva, told Tehran that it should take Washington’s threat of military action “seriously”. He said that while President Donald Trump prefers to try and get Iran to make a deal “diplomatically,” POTUS 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. “The president has a number of other tools at his disposal to ensure this doesn’t happen,” he said. “He’s shown a willingness to use them, and I hope the Iranians take it seriously in the negotiations tomorrow because that’s certainly what the president prefers.” The world’s attention turns to Switzerland Thursday as high-stakes nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran resume under a cloud of military threats and economic pressure.
US imposes new sanctions as pressure mounts: On Wednesday, the Trump administration intensified its “maximum pressure” campaign, blacklisting more than 30 individuals, entities, and “shadow fleet” vessels. The Treasury Department accused the targets of enabling Iran’s ballistic missile program, drone production, and illicit oil sales. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the move is designed to curb the regime’s weapons capabilities. This economic squeeze coincides with the largest US military buildup in the Middle East in decades, including the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald Ford carrier strike groups, as President Donald Trump warns that military force remains a viable option to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Nuclear talks: The stakes in Geneva
The third round of talks under Oman’s mediation represents a critical juncture. The delegations represent the highest levels of both governments:
Iran: Led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Geneva on Wednesday afternoon.
United States: Led by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner.
Vice President JD Vance recently reiterated that the administration’s goal is a total cessation of Iran’s nuclear weapon capabilities. However, with the US demanding a detailed proposal within a 48-hour window, diplomats warn that the margin for error has never been thinner.
Our Global Desk is verifying reports of maritime movement in the Strait of Hormuz and monitoring live statements from US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Stay tuned for real-time alerts, satellite imagery analysis, and diplomatic breakthroughs.