February 23, 2026
“I think there is no limited strike,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said at a briefing.
“An act of aggression would be regarded as an act of aggression. Period. And any state would react to an act of aggression as part of its inherent right of self-defense ferociously, so that’s what we would do,” he added.
He also rejected US claims that Iran seeks to stall the negotiations, vowing continued readiness for diplomacy as long as the talks “lead to results.”
A third round of indirect US–Iranian negotiations is scheduled to be held in Geneva on 26 February.
Washington continues to demand an end to the nuclear and missile programs, and that Tehran halt support for resistance groups in the region, which the Islamic Republic rejects.
Iran is only willing to discuss its nuclear program, but seeks to maintain the right to enrich uranium at some level.
“Thursday's talks are a test for Trump and will determine whether US soldiers go to hell or return home,” said the spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian parliament, Ebrahim Rezaei.
Western media reported recently that Trump may launch a “limited” strike to force Tehran into accepting US and Israeli terms, and would intensify strikes if Iran failed to agree. New York Times (NYT) said on 22 February that Trump will launch a small-scale strike then go for “regime change” later this year if Iran does not submit.
As the talks enter their third round this week, the region faces the largest US airpower buildup since the invasion of Iraq.
Last June, Israel launched a US-backed war on Iran in the middle of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington. Iranian forces responded with ballistic missile and drone operations against Israel.
The Islamic Republic also struck Al-Udeid Base in Qatar – the US's largest base in the region – after Washington officially joined the war, bombing nuclear facilities in Iran.
Following the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran fired ballistic missiles at the US Ain al-Asad base in Iraq.
Tehran is now warning that US assets and bases all across the region will be struck if Iran is attacked.
“Curious to know why we do not capitulate? Because we are Iranian,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday, after US envoy Steve Witkoff said Trump was “curious” why Iran had not “capitulated” in the face of the US military buildup and pressure.
“All bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets in the context of Iran's defensive response,” Iran’s UN mission said last week.
Hundreds of US troops have reportedly been evacuated from military bases in Bahrain and Qatar.
Trump recently gave Iran a 10 to 15-day deadline. Reports have said a US attack could come within days.
The deal was signed in Russia’s capital last year and will see Moscow send 500 man-portable “Verba” launch units and 2,500 9M336 missiles, the report revealed, citing Russian documents.
Tehran made the request for these missiles in July 2025, the report adds. Deliveries are planned in three tranches from 2027 to 2029, according to FT.
These shoulder-fired missiles are among Russia’s top man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).
They are designed to target low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles.
The report comes as the US is threatening to attack Iran. The region is facing the largest US air power buildup since the invasion of Iraq.
Tehran is warning that US assets and bases all across the region will be struck if Iran is attacked.
Iranian officials have also said a US attack will prompt strikes on Israel. During the 12-day war with Israel last June, Iran relied on its local air defense systems, which were subjected to Mossad-backed internal sabotage and drone attacks launched from within the country.
Hebrew media reported in August last year that Tel Aviv is concerned about a surge in military cooperation between the Islamic Republic and China, specifically in the missile field.
The month before, Middle East Eye (MEE) said Iran has been beefing up its air defenses with help from Beijing.
“All bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets in the context of Iran's defensive response,” Iran’s UN mission said last week.
Hundreds of US troops have reportedly been evacuated from military bases in Bahrain and Qatar.
A spokesman for the Iranian
parliament’s national security committee said that this week’s negotiations
will determine whether US soldiers ‘go to hell or return home
Iran vowed on 23 February to
treat any “limited” US strike as a war and retaliate accordingly, days after US
President Donald Trump confirmed to reporters that he was considering a
small-scale attack aimed at pressuring the Islamic Republic into accepting his
terms.
“I think there is no limited strike,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said at a briefing.
“An act of aggression would be regarded as an act of aggression. Period. And any state would react to an act of aggression as part of its inherent right of self-defense ferociously, so that’s what we would do,” he added.
He also rejected US claims that Iran seeks to stall the negotiations, vowing continued readiness for diplomacy as long as the talks “lead to results.”
A third round of indirect US–Iranian negotiations is scheduled to be held in Geneva on 26 February.
Washington continues to demand an end to the nuclear and missile programs, and that Tehran halt support for resistance groups in the region, which the Islamic Republic rejects.
Iran is only willing to discuss its nuclear program, but seeks to maintain the right to enrich uranium at some level.
“Thursday's talks are a test for Trump and will determine whether US soldiers go to hell or return home,” said the spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian parliament, Ebrahim Rezaei.
Western media reported recently that Trump may launch a “limited” strike to force Tehran into accepting US and Israeli terms, and would intensify strikes if Iran failed to agree. New York Times (NYT) said on 22 February that Trump will launch a small-scale strike then go for “regime change” later this year if Iran does not submit.
As the talks enter their third round this week, the region faces the largest US airpower buildup since the invasion of Iraq.
Last June, Israel launched a US-backed war on Iran in the middle of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington. Iranian forces responded with ballistic missile and drone operations against Israel.
The Islamic Republic also struck Al-Udeid Base in Qatar – the US's largest base in the region – after Washington officially joined the war, bombing nuclear facilities in Iran.
Following the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, Iran fired ballistic missiles at the US Ain al-Asad base in Iraq.
Tehran is now warning that US assets and bases all across the region will be struck if Iran is attacked.
“Curious to know why we do not capitulate? Because we are Iranian,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday, after US envoy Steve Witkoff said Trump was “curious” why Iran had not “capitulated” in the face of the US military buildup and pressure.
“All bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets in the context of Iran's defensive response,” Iran’s UN mission said last week.
Hundreds of US troops have reportedly been evacuated from military bases in Bahrain and Qatar.
Trump recently gave Iran a 10 to 15-day deadline. Reports have said a US attack could come within days.
The secret deal was reached last
year and has come to light as Washington is threatening to attack the Islamic
Republic
Iran has agreed to a “secret”
deal with Russia to acquire thousands of shoulder-fired missiles, worth nearly
$600 million, the Financial Times (FT) said in a report on 22 February.The deal was signed in Russia’s capital last year and will see Moscow send 500 man-portable “Verba” launch units and 2,500 9M336 missiles, the report revealed, citing Russian documents.
Tehran made the request for these missiles in July 2025, the report adds. Deliveries are planned in three tranches from 2027 to 2029, according to FT.
These shoulder-fired missiles are among Russia’s top man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).
They are designed to target low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles.
The report comes as the US is threatening to attack Iran. The region is facing the largest US air power buildup since the invasion of Iraq.
Tehran is warning that US assets and bases all across the region will be struck if Iran is attacked.
Iranian officials have also said a US attack will prompt strikes on Israel. During the 12-day war with Israel last June, Iran relied on its local air defense systems, which were subjected to Mossad-backed internal sabotage and drone attacks launched from within the country.
Hebrew media reported in August last year that Tel Aviv is concerned about a surge in military cooperation between the Islamic Republic and China, specifically in the missile field.
The month before, Middle East Eye (MEE) said Iran has been beefing up its air defenses with help from Beijing.
“All bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets in the context of Iran's defensive response,” Iran’s UN mission said last week.
Hundreds of US troops have reportedly been evacuated from military bases in Bahrain and Qatar.
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