Iran FM Says Nuclear Deal ‘Within Reach’ Ahead of US Talks

 Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addresses a special session of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations, aside of US-Iran talks in Geneva, Switzerland, February 17, 2026. (Reuters)
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addresses a special session of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations, aside of US-Iran talks in Geneva, Switzerland, February 17, 2026. (Reuters)
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Iran FM Says Nuclear Deal ‘Within Reach’ Ahead of US Talks

 Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addresses a special session of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations, aside of US-Iran talks in Geneva, Switzerland, February 17, 2026. (Reuters)
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addresses a special session of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations, aside of US-Iran talks in Geneva, Switzerland, February 17, 2026. (Reuters)

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that a nuclear deal was "within reach", ahead of talks with the United States scheduled for later this week.

"We have a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests," said Araghchi, in a post on the social media site X.

He added that a deal was "within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority."

Tehran and Washington are due to hold a third round of nuclear negotiations on Thursday in Geneva, the latest since talks resumed earlier this month.

The talks will be held against the backdrop of heavy US military deployment in the region in recent weeks and threats by President Donald Trump of a strike if no deal was reached.

Iran has repeatedly said it would respond firmly to any attack and on Monday the foreign ministry that any strike, even limited, "would be regarded as an act of aggression".

In his post, Araghchi said Iran will "under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon" but insisted on its right to "harness dividends of peaceful nuclear technology."

"We have proven that we will stop at nothing to guard our sovereignty with courage," he added.

Iran and the US held five rounds of nuclear talks last year but those negotiations were brought to an end with Israel's unprecedented attack on Iran which triggered a 12-day war.

The US joined briefly with strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites.

Iran responded at the time with drone and missile attacks on Israel, as well as by targeting the largest US military base in the Middle East, which is in Qatar.

Iran has consistently denied any ambition to build a nuclear weapon but defends enriching uranium for civilian energy and research as a sovereign right.



Trump Beats Bill Clinton's Record for Longest State of the Union Speech

US President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address ever (EPA)
US President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address ever (EPA)
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Trump Beats Bill Clinton's Record for Longest State of the Union Speech

US President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address ever (EPA)
US President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address ever (EPA)

US President Donald Trump delivered the longest-ever State of the Union address on Tuesday, beating Bill Clinton's 2000 record of one hour and 20 minutes.

Republican Trump also smashed his own 1 hour and 40 minute record for a presidential speech to Congress, which he set last March in an annual address that was not technically a State of the Union.

The US president's speech primarily focused on domestic issues, making no mention at all of China -- Washington's primary military and economic rival -- and only briefly referring to Russia.

Trump said he was working to end the bloody conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and repeated his claim that he had brought eight other wars to an end since returning to office in January 2025.

He claimed Iran is seeking to develop missiles that can strike the United States and accused Tehran of working to rebuild a nuclear program that was targeted by American strikes last year.

He also hailed NATO's decision to spend five percent of gross domestic product on defense -- a move made under heavy pressure from Trump and his administration.


Trump Accuses Iran of Developing Missiles Capable of "Reaching the United States"

US President Donald Trump departs the House Chamber following the State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., US, February 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
US President Donald Trump departs the House Chamber following the State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., US, February 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
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Trump Accuses Iran of Developing Missiles Capable of "Reaching the United States"

US President Donald Trump departs the House Chamber following the State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., US, February 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
US President Donald Trump departs the House Chamber following the State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., US, February 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed Iran is seeking to develop missiles that can strike the United States and accused Tehran of working to rebuild a nuclear program that was targeted by American strikes last year.

The United States and Iran are engaged in high-stakes negotiations over Iran's atomic program and other issues including missiles, with Trump saying he prefers diplomacy but is willing to use force if talks fail.

"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 during his State of the Union address.

In 2025, the US Defense Intelligence Agency said Iran could potentially develop a militarily viable intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 "should Tehran decide to pursue the capability," but did not say if it had made such a decision.

Tehran currently possesses short- and medium-range ballistic missiles with ranges that top out at about 1,850 miles (3,000 kilometers), according to the US Congressional Research Service.

The continental United States is more than 6,000 miles from Iran's western tip.

Washington and Tehran have concluded two rounds of talks aimed at reaching a deal on Iran's nuclear program to replace the agreement that Trump tore up during his first term in office.

The United States has repeatedly called for zero uranium enrichment by Iran but has also sought to address its ballistic missile program and support for armed groups in the region -- demands Iran has rejected.

Iran has also repeatedly rejected that it is pursuing nuclear weapons.

Trump ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites last year, claiming afterward that Tehran's atomic program was obliterated.

On Tuesday, he said Iran wants "to start all over again," and that it is "at this moment again pursuing their sinister nuclear ambitions."

Trump has sent a massive US military force to the Middle East, deploying two aircraft carriers as well as more than a dozen other ships, a large number of warplanes and other assets to the region.

He has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran if negotiations fail to reach a new agreement. Talks with Tehran are currently set to continue on Thursday.

"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, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon," AFP quoted Trump as saying.


Revolutionary Guards Conduct Military Drills in Iran’s South

Images of the drill carried out on Tuesday as shown on Iranian state television.
Images of the drill carried out on Tuesday as shown on Iranian state television.
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Revolutionary Guards Conduct Military Drills in Iran’s South

Images of the drill carried out on Tuesday as shown on Iranian state television.
Images of the drill carried out on Tuesday as shown on Iranian state television.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of the military, are carrying out drills on the country's southern shores of the Gulf, state media said Tuesday.

"Combined 1404 (2026) exercise of the IRGC Ground Forces has begun," state TV reported, referring to this year in both the Iranian and Gregorian calendars.

The war games are focused on the south coasts but similar drills are happening in other parts of Iran, the report added.

They include drones, vessels, amphibious vehicles, ground-to-sea missiles and rockets as well as artillery, state TV said.

"Very good measures have been designed in various sectors, including missiles, artillery, drones, special forces, armored vehicles and armored personnel carriers," Mohammad Karami, commander of IRGC ground forces, told state television.

He said the drills were being conducted "based on the threats that exist", without elaborating.

The drills come after Washington and Tehran concluded two rounds of Oman-mediated talks aimed at reaching a deal on Iran's nuclear program, with further talks set for Thursday.

Washington has repeatedly called for zero uranium enrichment by Iran but has also sought to address its ballistic missile program and support for militant groups in the region, demands Iran has rejected.

Western countries accuse Tehran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.

Tehran denies having such military ambitions but insists on its right to nuclear technology for civilian purposes.

US President Donald Trump, who has ratcheted up pressure on Iran to reach an agreement, has deployed a significant naval force to the Middle East. He once again on Monday threatened Iran with a military attack if a deal is not reached.

Last week, Iranian naval forces conducted another round of military drills in the Gulf and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz.