U.S. warship in Gulf can be sunk, warns Iran’s Ali Khamenei

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) that the U.S. warship deployed in the Gulf could be sunk, as nuclear talks between the two countries started.

“We constantly hear that they (the U.S) have sent a warship toward Iran. A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is the weapon capable of sinking it,” said Mr. Khamenei in a speech.

The U.S. and Iran are holding their second round of talks about Iran’s nuclear programme in Geneva as the U.S. ramps up its military presence in the Middle East and Iran holds large-scale maritime exercises.

Iran began the meeting in Geneva with Omani mediators regarding its nuclear programme.

Iranian state TV reported on Tuesday (February 17) that the negotiations with the U.S. will be indirect and will focus only on Iran’s nuclear programme, not domestic policies including its bloody crackdown on protesters last month.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force to compel Iran to agree to constrain its nuclear programme. Iran has said it would respond with an attack of its own. Mr. Trump has also threatened Iran over its deadly crackdown on recent nationwide protests.

The first round of talks February 6 were held in Oman and were indirect. The arrangements for Tuesday’s round of negotiations were not clear.

Mr. Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were travelling for the new round of talks. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Budapest, Hungary, said on Monday (February 16) that the U.S. hopes to achieve a deal with Iran, despite the difficulties.

“I’m not going to prejudge these talks,” Mr. Rubio said. “The President always prefers peaceful outcomes and negotiated outcomes to things.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is leading the talks for Iran, met with the head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency Monday in Geneva.

“I am in Geneva with real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal,” Mr. Araghchi wrote on X. “What is not on the table: submission before threats.”

Talking to reporters on Monday night aboard Air Force One on his way to Washington, Mr. Trump said of the U.S.-Iran talks, “I’ll be involved in those talks – indirectly – and they’ll be very important, and we’ll see what can happen.”

(With inputs from agencies)