Iran-US Tensions News LIVE Updates: ‘Will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon,’ says Trump
US President Donald Trump and Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. (File images)
US-Iran Tensions Live News Updates: US President Donald Trump, during his State of the Union address, said that it’s a US policy not to allow Iran nuclear weapons. He slammed Tehran, stating that it killed 32,000 people during protests, and further touted his ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’, where the United States targeted Iranian nuclear sites. He stated that Iran continues to pursue “sinister ambitions”. “After Midnight Hammer, they were warned to make no future attempts to rebuild their weapons program—yet they continue, and are at this moment again pursuing their sinister nuclear ambitions,” he says. He said that Iran wants to make a deal to avoid further US strikes, but has not yet committed to never making a nuclear weapon. “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy – but one thing is certain. I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror – which they are by far – to have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
Tensions in the Middle East have reached a critical flashpoint as Trump confirmed he is weighing “limited military strikes” against Iran should upcoming nuclear negotiations fail. Speaking to reporters ahead of a high-stakes diplomatic round in Geneva this Thursday, Trump issued a sharp ultimatum: Tehran “better negotiate a fair deal” or face the consequences of a massive regional military build-up. The situation on the ground is shifting rapidly. The US State Department has ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel from its embassy in Beirut, citing “prudent” safety concerns over potential Iranian retaliation. Meanwhile, the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Mediterranean to join the USS Abraham Lincoln marks a rare dual-carrier deployment, signalling Washington’s readiness for a sustained air campaign.
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What’s the current situation?
- The Geneva ultimatum: Indirect talks are set to resume on February 26. Washington is demanding “zero enrichment”, while Tehran is drafting a counter-proposal focused on “mutual respect” and sanctions relief.
- Military ‘crescendo’: With the USS Gerald R. Ford now in position, the US has assembled its largest concentration of air and naval power in the region since 2003.
- Iran’s warning: Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the Foreign Ministry have dismissed the “limited strike” concept, warning that any aggression will be met “ferociously” and that US assets are now “legitimate targets”.
- Diplomatic exodus: Beyond the US embassy drawdown in Lebanon, other nations, including India, have issued urgent advisories for their citizens to leave Iran as the risk of kinetic conflict grows.
- Internal pressure: These tensions coincide with a resurgence of anti-government protests at Iranian universities, complicating Tehran’s negotiating position.
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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