Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected U.S. threats of military action as Iranian and U.S. representatives begin indirect talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme in Geneva, Switzerland, 17 February.
The talks, brokered by Oman, are aimed at resolving a long-running dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme as the United States continues to amass forces in the Arabian Sea. President Donald Trump has warned that failure to reach an agreement could lead to military strikes.
Addressing a crowd of supporters in Tehran on 17 February, Khamenei said Iran has the capability to sink U.S. warships.
“What is more dangerous than a warship is a weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea,” he said.
His comments came a day after Trump hinted at the possibility of military action if diplomacy fails.
“I don’t think they want the consequences of no deal,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on 16 February.
“We could have made a deal instead of sending B-2s to destroy their nuclear capability. And we had to send B-2s,” he added, referring to the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025.
13 Feb The US president said regime change in Iran would be “the best thing that could happen”.
Addressing Trump directly, Khamenei said the US president “will not be able” to topple the Islamic Republic.
Trump said he would be “indirectly” involved in the Geneva talks. It is the second round of meetings this year between Tehran and Washington after talks earlier this month in Muscat.
Iran has said it is willing to submit to a strict regime of inspections of its nuclear facilities in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions. It has also tried to present its sanctions-hit economy as a lucrative investment opportunity for US firms.
But Tehran has rejected the possibility of talks on issues such as its missile programme and support for proxies in the region – “red lines” that the Trump administration insists need to be addressed.
The talks are being held at the Omani consulate, where mediators are exchanging messages between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US special envoy Steve Whitkoff.
As the United States increases its military presence in the Arabian Sea, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (quir) began naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on 16 February. Iranian media reported that the purpose was to test the navy’s operational readiness for “possible security and military threats”.
On 17 February, state media announced the temporary closure of parts of the Strait for “security reasons”.
As tensions with the West have escalated, Tehran has frequently threatened to disrupt the strait, a point through which more than 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply passes daily.