Iran issues a stark warning ahead of negotiations as both sides prepare proposals amid mistrust after previous agreements collapsed.
Key Developments
Iran’s top military chief warns that conflict would end US global dominance.
Tehran refuses to halt uranium enrichment or export enriched stockpile.
Indirect US-Iran negotiations are scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva with Omani mediation.
Iranian foreign minister to meet IAEA chief and international officials.
US says it seeks negotiated settlement ahead of talks.
Direct Warning
Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, warned US President Donald Trump that any military confrontation would have historic consequences for American global power.
Speaking ahead of upcoming negotiations, Mousavi said a war against Iran would teach Washington a “historic lesson” and prevent it from exercising hegemony worldwide.
“Trump should know that any battle against Iran will teach him a historic lesson,” he said, according to Iranian media. “It will prevent him from exercising dominance in the world again.”
He also questioned Washington’s messaging ahead of talks.
“If Trump wants war, why does he talk about negotiations?” Mousavi asked.
His remarks came as preparations continued for indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States, scheduled to take place in Geneva under Oman’s mediation.
Skepticism Before Talks
Iranian political officials indicated limited expectations for a breakthrough.
Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of Iran’s parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Tehran has prepared proposals but remains wary of Washington’s intentions.
“We are not very optimistic about the results of the negotiations because the United States has a long record of violating agreements,” he said, according to Tasnim News Agency.
Rezaei confirmed Iran will not discuss ending uranium enrichment and will not transfer enriched uranium outside the country.
He added the talks would not cover missile capabilities or regional alliances, limiting the scope strictly to the nuclear file.
Foreign Minister Travels to Geneva
Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed for Switzerland at the head of a diplomatic delegation for the second round of indirect negotiations with Washington.
The ministry said Araghchi will meet International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi, Oman’s foreign minister, and other officials during the visit, according to Iranian and regional media reports.
Swiss authorities confirmed Geneva will host the talks, mediated by Oman.
The meeting follows an earlier round of indirect negotiations held in Muscat on February 6. Officials described those discussions as constructive but limited to general frameworks.
Araghchi said afterward that the discussions focused only on the nuclear issue and did not include Iran’s missile program.
Nuclear Dispute
The United States and Israel accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons capability, while Tehran maintains its program is for peaceful civilian purposes, including electricity generation.
Iran insists any agreement must include lifting sanctions in exchange for limits on nuclear activities, but rejects demands for “zero enrichment.”
Araghchi previously described exporting Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile as a “red line” affecting national sovereignty.
Iran has suggested it may accept monitoring measures or lower enrichment levels, but not the elimination of enrichment entirely.
After the Muscat Meeting
The Geneva round follows indirect talks hosted by Oman earlier this month.
Omani officials described the February 6 discussions as positive, while President Donald Trump later told reporters the talks were “good” and said he believed Iran appeared interested in reaching an agreement.
However, shortly before publicly commenting, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on countries that continued trade with Iran.
The negotiations mark the first diplomatic engagement since the June 2025 war between Iran and Israel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington seeks a negotiated settlement.
“We are postured in the region for one simple reason — we understand there could be threats to our forces,” Rubio told reporters, adding the president “prefers diplomacy and an outcome of negotiated settlement.”
Rubio confirmed special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are traveling for meetings related to the talks.
He added the administration would follow US law regarding congressional consultation if military decisions were considered, but emphasized: “Right now, we’re talking about negotiations.”
Although the talks focus on the nuclear issue, disagreements persist over broader concerns.
US and Israeli officials have previously raised Iran’s missile program and its regional relationships — issues Tehran rejects, including in the negotiations.
Iran maintains that missiles are defensive and non-negotiable and insists discussions remain limited to nuclear matters and sanctions relief.
Renewed Engagement
Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement reached during the Obama administration and later said US strikes in June 2025 destroyed Iran’s nuclear program — a claim rejected by Tehran.
Tensions rose again following protests inside Iran in late 2025 and early 2026 and increasingly sharp US rhetoric.
Regional mediators encouraged renewed dialogue to avoid escalation.
Earlier proposals suggested talks could be held in Turkiye with broader regional participation, but Iran rejected the format and insisted on Omani mediation.
The Geneva negotiations will focus on nuclear restrictions and possible sanctions relief.
Iran seeks economic relief while preserving enrichment rights.
US officials say they aim for an agreement through diplomacy.
Both sides are expected to present proposals during the upcoming round, though officials acknowledge mistrust remains after years of confrontation and previous agreement collapses.
Iran’s top military chief warns that conflict would end US global dominance.
Tehran refuses to halt uranium enrichment or export enriched stockpile.
Indirect US-Iran negotiations are scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva with Omani mediation.
Iranian foreign minister to meet IAEA chief and international officials.
US says it seeks negotiated settlement ahead of talks.
Direct Warning
Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, warned US President Donald Trump that any military confrontation would have historic consequences for American global power.
Speaking ahead of upcoming negotiations, Mousavi said a war against Iran would teach Washington a “historic lesson” and prevent it from exercising hegemony worldwide.
“Trump should know that any battle against Iran will teach him a historic lesson,” he said, according to Iranian media. “It will prevent him from exercising dominance in the world again.”
He also questioned Washington’s messaging ahead of talks.
“If Trump wants war, why does he talk about negotiations?” Mousavi asked.
His remarks came as preparations continued for indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States, scheduled to take place in Geneva under Oman’s mediation.
Skepticism Before Talks
Iranian political officials indicated limited expectations for a breakthrough.
Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of Iran’s parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Tehran has prepared proposals but remains wary of Washington’s intentions.
“We are not very optimistic about the results of the negotiations because the United States has a long record of violating agreements,” he said, according to Tasnim News Agency.
Rezaei confirmed Iran will not discuss ending uranium enrichment and will not transfer enriched uranium outside the country.
He added the talks would not cover missile capabilities or regional alliances, limiting the scope strictly to the nuclear file.
Foreign Minister Travels to Geneva
Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed for Switzerland at the head of a diplomatic delegation for the second round of indirect negotiations with Washington.
The ministry said Araghchi will meet International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi, Oman’s foreign minister, and other officials during the visit, according to Iranian and regional media reports.
Swiss authorities confirmed Geneva will host the talks, mediated by Oman.
The meeting follows an earlier round of indirect negotiations held in Muscat on February 6. Officials described those discussions as constructive but limited to general frameworks.
Araghchi said afterward that the discussions focused only on the nuclear issue and did not include Iran’s missile program.
Nuclear Dispute
The United States and Israel accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons capability, while Tehran maintains its program is for peaceful civilian purposes, including electricity generation.
Iran insists any agreement must include lifting sanctions in exchange for limits on nuclear activities, but rejects demands for “zero enrichment.”
Araghchi previously described exporting Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile as a “red line” affecting national sovereignty.
Iran has suggested it may accept monitoring measures or lower enrichment levels, but not the elimination of enrichment entirely.
After the Muscat Meeting
The Geneva round follows indirect talks hosted by Oman earlier this month.
Omani officials described the February 6 discussions as positive, while President Donald Trump later told reporters the talks were “good” and said he believed Iran appeared interested in reaching an agreement.
However, shortly before publicly commenting, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on countries that continued trade with Iran.
The negotiations mark the first diplomatic engagement since the June 2025 war between Iran and Israel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington seeks a negotiated settlement.
“We are postured in the region for one simple reason — we understand there could be threats to our forces,” Rubio told reporters, adding the president “prefers diplomacy and an outcome of negotiated settlement.”
Rubio confirmed special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are traveling for meetings related to the talks.
He added the administration would follow US law regarding congressional consultation if military decisions were considered, but emphasized: “Right now, we’re talking about negotiations.”
Although the talks focus on the nuclear issue, disagreements persist over broader concerns.
US and Israeli officials have previously raised Iran’s missile program and its regional relationships — issues Tehran rejects, including in the negotiations.
Iran maintains that missiles are defensive and non-negotiable and insists discussions remain limited to nuclear matters and sanctions relief.
Renewed Engagement
Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement reached during the Obama administration and later said US strikes in June 2025 destroyed Iran’s nuclear program — a claim rejected by Tehran.
Tensions rose again following protests inside Iran in late 2025 and early 2026 and increasingly sharp US rhetoric.
Regional mediators encouraged renewed dialogue to avoid escalation.
Earlier proposals suggested talks could be held in Turkiye with broader regional participation, but Iran rejected the format and insisted on Omani mediation.
The Geneva negotiations will focus on nuclear restrictions and possible sanctions relief.
Iran seeks economic relief while preserving enrichment rights.
US officials say they aim for an agreement through diplomacy.
Both sides are expected to present proposals during the upcoming round, though officials acknowledge mistrust remains after years of confrontation and previous agreement collapses.
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