Iran president vows defiance as protests build against regime amid US military build up

Fox News - WorldCenter-RightEN 2 min read 100% complete by Efrat LachterFebruary 23, 2026 at 05:17 PM

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Anti-government protests are building across Iran as nuclear negotiations with the U.S. are set to resume in Geneva on Thursday. Demonstrators are expressing anger over economic hardship and repression. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed defiance, stating Tehran would not bow to external pressure regarding its nuclear program. The U.S. has expanded its military presence in the Middle East as negotiations, mediated by Oman, aim to address Iran's nuclear program amid rising regional tensions. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled out abandoning uranium enrichment and rejected U.S. demands to include Iran's ballistic missile program in negotiations. The U.S. special envoy warned that Iran could be close to having bomb-making material.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Geneva 30% Behnam Ben Taleblu 30% Janatan Sayeh 30% Oman ×240% Al Jazeera 40% Steve Witkoff 40% Foundation for Defense of Democracies 40% Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 50% Donald Trump ×250% Masoud Pezeshkian 60% United States ×480% Iran ×1090%

Keywords

iran protests 90% nuclear negotiations 80% us military build up 70% iranian regime 70% uranium enrichment 60% economic hardship 60% regional tensions 50% sanctions relief 50% diplomatic track 40%