Iran fires missiles, Khamenei threatens to sink US warship as nuclear talks start

Iran fired live missiles towards the Strait of Hormuz while its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that a US warship deployed in the Gulf could be sunk. The warning came as nuclear talks between the two countries began on Tuesday in Geneva. Iran announced a maritime military exercise on Monday, which involved firing missiles into the Strait of Hormuz. The talks are the second round of negotiations about Iran's nuclear programme and will focus only on this issue, excluding domestic policies. The US warship is part of Washington's increased military presence in the Middle East. Iranian state TV reported that the negotiations would be indirect and limited to discussions on Iran's nuclear programme.

Iran commenced naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, and Oman Sea on Monday, February 16, 2026. The drills, overseen by Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were reported by state TV. The timing of the exercises coincides with upcoming nuclear talks between the US and Iran scheduled to take place in Geneva on Tuesday. The drills involved naval forces operating in strategically important waterways. The purpose of the exercises was not explicitly stated in the report.