U.S. warship in Gulf can be sunk, warns Iran’s Khamenei

Iran's Khamenei warns the U.S. warship in the Gulf could be sunk amid ongoing nuclear talks in Geneva.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) that the U.S. warship deployed in the Gulf could be sunk, as nuclear talks between the two countries started.

“We constantly hear that they (the U.S) have sent a warship toward Iran. A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is the weapon capable of sinking it,” said Mr. Khamenei in a speech.

The U.S. and Iran are holding their second round of talks about Iran’s nuclear programme in Geneva as the U.S. ramps up its military presence in the Middle East and Iran holds large-scale maritime exercises.

Iran began the meeting in Geneva with Omani mediators regarding its nuclear programme.

Iranian state TV reported on Tuesday (February 17) that the negotiations with the U.S. will be indirect and will focus only on Iran’s nuclear programme, not domestic policies including its bloody crackdown on protesters last month.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force to compel Iran to agree to constrain its nuclear programme. Iran has said it would respond with an attack of its own. Mr. Trump has also threatened Iran over its deadly crackdown on recent nationwide protests.