Tehran signals openness to “honorable diplomacy” while warning of retaliation as U.S. military presence in region expands.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Iranian officials on Wednesday rejected President Donald Trump’s recent statements about Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs, alternating between sharp criticism and expressions of conditional openness ahead of scheduled talks in Geneva.
The comments come before a third round of negotiations between the United States and Iran set for Thursday in Switzerland, mediated by Oman. The talks follow heightened tensions marked by expanded U.S. military deployments in the Middle East and renewed debate over Iran’s nuclear activities.
In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Trump warned that Iran has developed missiles capable of threatening Europe and U.S. overseas bases and is working toward missiles that could reach 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. “They were warned to make no future attempts to rebuild their weapons program, and in particular nuclear weapons, yet they continue. They’re starting it all over.”
Satellite imagery previously analyzed by The Associated Press showed activity at Iranian missile production sites and work at three nuclear facilities struck by U.S. forces in June. Trump had earlier described those strikes as having “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Western governments and the International Atomic Energy Agency have said Iran had an organized nuclear weapons program until 2003. Prior to the June strikes, Iran had enriched uranium to 60 percent purity, a level below weapons-grade but technically closer to the 90 percent threshold required for nuclear weapons.
Responding to Trump’s remarks, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei accused the U.S. administration of spreading falsehoods.
“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,’” Baghaei wrote on X, comparing Trump’s rhetoric to propaganda tactics.
Trump stated in his address that at least 32,000 people were killed during nationwide protests in Iran last month. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activist News Agency has counted more than 7,000 deaths and estimates the total may be higher. Iran’s government announced on Jan. 21 that 3,117 people were killed, a figure that differs from activist counts.
Separately, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran is prepared for diplomacy if conducted on what he described as respectful terms.
“If you choose the table of diplomacy — a diplomacy in which the dignity of the Iranian nation and mutual interests are respected — we will also be at that table,” Qalibaf said, according to the semiofficial Student News Network.
“But if you decide to repeat past experiences through deception, lies, flawed analysis and false information, and launch an attack in the midst of negotiations, you will undoubtedly taste the firm blow of the Iranian nation and the country’s defensive forces,” he added.
The negotiations come amid an expanded U.S. military presence in the region. The United States has deployed additional aircraft and warships to the Middle East in what officials describe as a show of force aimed at strengthening Washington’s leverage.
Satellite photos taken Tuesday by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by The Associated Press appeared to show U.S. naval vessels normally docked in Bahrain — home to the Navy’s 5th Fleet — positioned at sea. The 5th Fleet referred inquiries to U.S. Central Command, which did not immediately respond. A similar dispersal of ships occurred in June before Iran launched a missile attack on Qatar.
Iran has previously stated that U.S. military bases in the region would be considered legitimate targets if conflict erupts, placing tens of thousands of American service members at potential risk.
Uncertainty remains over the outcome of the Geneva talks and the potential consequences of failure. Trump has repeatedly threatened military action if negotiations collapse. Regional governments have expressed concern that renewed hostilities could escalate into a broader conflict, particularly as tensions from the prolonged Israel-Hamas war continue to affect the region.
Questions also persist regarding the scope and objectives of any potential U.S. military action. The administration has not publicly detailed whether strikes would be limited to pressuring nuclear concessions or extend to broader strategic aims.
Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have not been permitted to verify conditions at certain Iranian nuclear sites following the June strikes, leaving open questions about the current status of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
As diplomats prepare to meet in Geneva, both sides have framed the moment as a choice between renewed confrontation and a negotiated path forward.
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