The United States and Iran are engaged in a tense diplomatic standoff following renewed accusations from Washington that Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons, a claim firmly rejected by Iranian officials.
In his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump asserted that Iran is advancing “sinister ambitions” to acquire an atomic weapon and developing missiles capable of reaching Europe and US overseas bases, with future capabilities targeting the continental United States. Trump warned he would “never allow” Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon and had previously set a 15-day deadline for Tehran to agree to a deal, suggesting military action could follow a failure to comply.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry responded by denouncing the allegations as false and misleading. Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei accused the US administration and its allies, specifically naming Israel, of employing propaganda tactics. In a social media post, Baqaei invoked Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels, stating that professional liars create an “illusion of truth” by repeating “big lies” often enough, framing the US claims as a deliberate campaign.
The confrontation is set to continue with a third round of indirect talks, mediated by Oman, scheduled for Geneva. Diplomats expect Iran to present a draft agreement. These negotiations follow a previous round that ended without a breakthrough. The diplomatic push comes amid significant military maneuvering, including the US deployment of two carrier strike groups and additional bombers to the Middle East, and the reported movement of over 150 aircraft to regional bases.
The stakes are high, with both sides preparing for potential escalation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has maintained Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and declared that zero uranium enrichment is unacceptable. He stated Iran is prepared for military confrontation if diplomacy fails and would target US bases in the region if attacked.
The heightened tensions follow the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict in June 2025. Russia has warned the current standoff is “potentially explosive,” cautioning that attacks on nuclear facilities could trigger a disaster and urging all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution.
The Geneva talks represent a critical juncture. Failure to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough risks further military posturing and raises concerns about regional stability and nuclear proliferation.
