Iran, US set to hold talks as Trump threatens force, imposes sanctions

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva on Wednesday for a third round of indirect nuclear talks with the United States, as Washington simultaneously announced new sanctions on vessels linked to Tehran's oil trade and continued building up its military presence in the Middle East amid ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear program. Before his departure, Araghchi expressed optimism that a 'fair, balanced and equitable deal' was within reach while reiterating Iran's position that it does not seek nuclear weapons and maintains its right to peaceful nuclear technology. The talks, facilitated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, follow two previous rounds held in Oman on February 6 and in Geneva on February 17, with Iranian officials reporting tentative understanding on broad principles though no substantive agreement has been reached. In Washington, US officials maintained a confrontational stance alongside diplomatic efforts, with Vice President JD Vance accusing Iran of attempting to rebuild its nuclear program after US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites last June. The Treasury Department announced sweeping sanctions targeting over 30 individuals, entities and vessels involved in financing Iran's oil sales, ballistic missile program and weapons production. President Donald Trump, in his State of the Union address, accused Iran of harboring 'sinister nuclear ambitions' and developing missiles capable of striking the US, claims vehemently rejected by Iranian officials who dismissed them as 'big lies' comparable to Nazi propaganda tactics. The negotiations come amid significant military buildup by the US in the region, with Washington deploying its largest aircraft carrier group to the Middle East in decades and numerous fighter jets. US officials have maintained that the military presence serves as deterrence while seeking diplomatic leverage, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizing that Iran's insistence on excluding its missile program from negotiations remains 'a big, big problem.' Iranian officials have warned that any US strike would provoke retaliatory attacks on American military bases throughout the Middle East and potentially threaten the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global oil supplies passes. Despite the escalating tensions, both sides continue to express preference for a diplomatic solution, with Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stating Iran would engage at the diplomatic table if treated with dignity, but would respond forcefully to any attack.