Iran’s negotiation team has departed Tehran for the third round of nuclear discussions with the United States, as per state media reports on Wednesday. At the same time, Iranian officials criticized comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump during his state of the union address. The Iranian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, is en route to Geneva, where they are set to meet with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Thursday.
In anticipation of potential strikes against Iran, the United States has positioned a significant naval presence near the Iranian coast. Trump, on February 19, issued a deadline of 10 to 15 days for Tehran to reach a deal. In response to Trump’s statements, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei likened him to Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler’s propaganda chief. Baghaei accused the Trump administration of spreading disinformation against Iran regarding its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and the casualties from January’s unrest.
During his state of the union address to Congress, Trump hinted at a potential military action against Iran but left many questions unanswered. He cited Tehran’s support for militant groups in the Middle East, violence against protesters, and its missile and nuclear programs as threats. Trump accused Iran of restarting its nuclear program after claiming it had been dismantled following U.S. strikes in support of Israel.
Trump’s frustration with the lack of progress in negotiations was evident, as he emphasized the need for Iran to assure it will never pursue nuclear weapons. Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are solely for civilian energy purposes. Trump also blamed Iran for the deaths of thousands of protesters during recent demonstrations, although his cited figure of 32,000 casualties differs significantly from other estimates.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, warned the U.S. to choose diplomacy or face Iran’s retaliation. He emphasized the importance of respecting Iran’s dignity and mutual interests in any negotiations. Additionally, remarks made by the lead U.S. negotiator regarding Trump’s mindset led to a sharp response from the Iranian counterpart, highlighting the cultural differences in negotiation approaches.
Senate Democratic minority leader Chuck Schumer called for transparency in any potential military actions against Iran, emphasizing the need for public discussion and congressional oversight to avoid prolonged conflicts and costly mistakes. Despite Trump’s preference for peace and his claims of resolving global conflicts, tensions with Iran remain high, with challenges posed by the complex geopolitical landscape.
