Iran-US Tensions News Live Updates: Iran reaffirms opposition to developing nuclear weapons, cites Khamenei’s fatwa ahead of Geneva talks
US President Donald Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Reuters file/AI-enhanced image)
Iran-US Tensions Live News Updates: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday reiterated the country’s opposition to developing nuclear weapons. He stated that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has banned weapons of mass destruction, which “clearly means Tehran won’t develop nuclear weapons”. Khamenei, who has the last say on Tehran’s nuclear programme, banned the development of nuclear weapons in a fatwa, or religious decree, in the early 2000s.
US imposes new sanctions as pressure mounts: On Wednesday, the Trump administration intensified its “maximum pressure” campaign, blacklisting more than 30 individuals, entities, and “shadow fleet” vessels. The Treasury Department accused the targets of enabling Iran’s ballistic missile program, drone production, and illicit oil sales. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the move is designed to curb the regime’s weapons capabilities. This economic squeeze coincides with the largest US military buildup in the Middle East in decades, including the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald Ford carrier strike groups, as President Donald Trump warns that military force remains a viable option to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Nuclear talks: The stakes in Geneva
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Scheduled for Thursday, the third round of talks under Oman’s mediation represents a critical juncture. The delegations represent the highest levels of both governments:
Iran: Led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Geneva on Wednesday afternoon.
United States: Led by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner.
Vice President JD Vance recently reiterated that the administration’s goal is a total cessation of Iran’s nuclear weapon capabilities. However, with the US demanding a detailed proposal within a 48-hour window, diplomats warn that the margin for error has never been thinner.
Our Global Desk is verifying reports of maritime movement in the Strait of Hormuz and monitoring live statements from US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Stay tuned for real-time alerts, satellite imagery analysis, and diplomatic breakthroughs.
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