Demonstrators rally in solidarity with the Iranian protest motion in Los Angeles. File
| Photograph Credit score: AFP
Tensions remained excessive in West Asia on Thursday (February 19, 2026) because the U.S. continued to bolster its army presence within the area, Iran performed naval drills together with Russia within the Persian Gulf and Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iranians to withstand any exterior aggression.
“There are lots of causes and arguments that one might make for a strike towards Iran,” White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated in Washington, including that “Iran can be very smart to make a cope with President Trump.”
U.S. media reported on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) that President Donald Trump would resolve whether or not to strike Iran or not as quickly as this weekend. The U.S. has deployed one plane provider and dozens of fighter jets, warships, guided destroyers, gasoline tankers and missile defence programs to the area. A second plane provider is predicted to achieve the Mediterranean Sea subsequent week.
Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted a verse from Quran in social media on Thursday (February 19, 2026), indicating that an assault may very well be imminent and urging Iranians to withstand. “So ought to anybody aggress towards you, assail him within the method he assailed you,” it learn.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) introduced on Thursday (February 19, 2026) that Iranian and Russian forces have efficiently carried out a mock operation to rescue a hijacked vessel throughout fight naval drills close to the Bandar Abbas port within the Persian Gulf. That is the second live-fire drill IRGC is finishing up since tensions between the U.S. and Iran spiked final month.
Iran and the U.S. held a second spherical of talks on February 17, 2026 in Geneva below Oman’s mediation. Iran’s International Minister Abbas Aragchi had stated either side had made “progress” in talks and agreed on “guiding ideas” for future talks. However the People have been much less optimistic. Vice-President J.D. Vance stated in an interview that “gaps stay” between the 2 sides.
Iran has stated it will negotiate solely about its nuclear programme, whereas the U.S., in accordance with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, desires to place Iran’s missile programme and its assist for regional non-state allies additionally on the agenda. The U.S. additionally desires Iran to finish uranium enrichment fully.
Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Vitality Organisation of Iran, stated on Thursday (February 19, 2026) that Iran wouldn’t abandon its proper to nuclear enrichment. ”Iran’s nuclear programme is continuing in accordance with the principles of the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company, and no nation can deprive Iran of the suitable to peacefully profit from this expertise,” Mr. Eslami stated at an occasion in Tehran, in accordance with state media.
In June, the U.S. joined Israel to assault Iran’s nuclear amenities. Mr. Trump then claimed that the U.S. “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme. Mr. Trump final month threatened to make use of power amid protests within the nation. He later requested Iran to make a deal over its nuclear programme or face “profound penalties”.
Iran has stated it was not in search of to construct a bomb, however has dominated out giving up its nuclear programme totally.
“The complexity of nuclear applied sciences is extraordinarily excessive, and their tools and infrastructure will not be simply obtainable, significantly below circumstances the place provide routes are tainted by Zionist infiltration and sabotage,” Mr. Eslami famous. “Because of this, Iran was compelled to create your complete chain of analysis, design, development, testing, and technological maturation internally; a path that has now borne fruit,” he added.
Revealed – February 19, 2026 09:20 pm IST
