On Thursday (February 26), the United States and Iran will commence the third round of nuclear talks in Geneva. In the lead-up to the talks, senior officials from the US issued stern warnings to Tehran, highlighting that Iran’s massive stockpile of ballistic missiles poses a direct threat to the US and its allies.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while en route to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit, told the media that Iran is actively seeking to rebuild crucial components of its nuclear program. Despite previous strikes on their nuclear facilities, Rubio pointed out that Iran is working to restore its capacity for uranium enrichment, potentially reaching levels necessary for nuclear proliferation.
“While we warned them not to restart their nuclear program after it was completely dismantled, they are now in the process of rebuilding,” Rubio stated. “We can see attempts by Iran to reconstruct various aspects of their nuclear program. Although uranium enrichment has not resumed currently, they are striving to achieve the capability.”
Rubio also highlighted Iran’s significant stockpile of ballistic missiles, citing assessments from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) indicating that Iran possesses the largest arsenal of such weapons in the Middle East.
“Beyond the nuclear program, these conventional weapons they possess are purely intended to be used against the US and Americans when they decide to do so,” he remarked. “As we speak, the weapons they currently have can cover most of Europe.”
Rubio noted that Iran insists on excluding discussions on ballistic missile issues at the Geneva negotiations, labeling it a “major issue.” He added that while he hopes for progress in the talks, “ultimately, we must address not only the nuclear program.”
US Vice President JD Vance also took a firm stance on the issue on Wednesday. He mentioned that US envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are set to meet with the Iranian delegation on Thursday to assess the possibility of reaching an agreement, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi mediating the discussions.
Meanwhile, the US has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East in preparation for potential strikes against Iran.
Vance emphasized in an interview with Fox News that the US’s bottom line is clear: “Iran absolutely cannot possess nuclear weapons.” He further stated that if President Trump ultimately chooses to take military action, preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons would be the “ultimate military objective.”
In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump accused Iran of restarting its nuclear program and developing missiles capable of striking the US mainland. He mentioned that recent protests in Iran had resulted in approximately 32,000 deaths and held Iran responsible for “roadside bombings” that have caused casualties among US military personnel and civilians.
Last Thursday, Trump issued a final ultimatum to Tehran, demanding an agreement within 10 to 15 days, or else facing “very bad things.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is under significant internal pressure, including economic hardships due to sanctions, and facing renewed protests following major unrest and bloody crackdowns in January.
Although Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran seeks to reach an agreement “fairly and swiftly” and indicated willingness to make concessions in exchange for sanctions relief, there are still serious disagreements between both parties regarding the scope and sequence of sanctions removal.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is expected to participate in the discussions as well, striving to seek a diplomatic breakthrough before the deadline.