![People walk past an anti-US billboard in Tehran, Iran, February 19, 2026 [Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via Reuters]](https://world-tension.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/articles/7/51d18669016141beb557826fb5eee536.webp)
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva on Wednesday, setting the stage for the third round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, scheduled for Thursday. The talks come amid escalating tensions, as the US has announced new sanctions targeting vessels linked to Iran’s oil trade.
US Vice President JD Vance has accused Iran of attempting to rebuild its nuclear program, a claim met with strong denials from Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, who dismissed the allegations as ‘big lies’. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump asserted that previous US military actions had ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear capabilities, although the International Atomic Energy Agency has not been allowed to verify the current status of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
In a show of force, the US has deployed the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, three destroyers, and the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to the Middle East, marking the largest military buildup in the region in decades. This deployment includes dozens of fighter jets, such as F-35s, F-22s, F-15s, and F-16s, flown in from bases in the US and Europe. The US military presence in the Middle East now includes tens of thousands of troops, aimed at increasing leverage over Iran through military might and economic sanctions.
Iran has responded with threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, if attacked by the US. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has stated that Iran is willing to engage in diplomacy, provided its dignity and mutual interests are respected.
The negotiations in Geneva follow previous rounds held in Oman and Geneva earlier this year. The US Department of the Treasury has also announced sanctions against more than 30 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to Iran’s oil sales and weapons production, further straining relations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed concerns over Iran’s ballistic missile development, while Iran maintains that its missile program is solely for defensive purposes. As the two nations prepare for talks, the international community watches closely, aware that the outcome could significantly impact regional stability and global security.
