US and Iran exchange strong words as third Geneva talks begin today

Iranian officials strike a dual tone today, dismissing American accusations as propaganda while signalling that diplomacy remains possible even as they say Tehran is prepared for both war and peace ahead of critical talks in Geneva.

The conflicting signals come as Washington assembles one of its largest military buildups in the Middle East in decades, a show of force intended to strengthen President Donald Trump’s position at the negotiating table. Trump says diplomacy is his preference but warns that the United States is ready to act if negotiations fail. In remarks this week he claimed Iran is building missiles that could reach the United States , and reiterated that he will not allow Tehran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei denounces Trump’s claims as “disinformation and misinformation,” dismissing U.S. figures on protest casualties and nuclear intentions as “big lies.” He insists Iran’s programme is peaceful and warns any attack during negotiations will be met with firm retaliation.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran is fully prepared for both war and peace , and that a deal could be built on understandings reached previously if diplomacy is prioritised. He rejects U.S. allegations about missile range and reiterates Iran is not developing long‑range weapons, saying limited capabilities are for defence only.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf says a settlement remains possible if diplomatic channels are respected. Several countries including India, Serbia, Poland, Sweden, Cyprus, Singapore, and South Korea have urged their citizens to leave Iran amid rising tensions. Satellite imagery shows U.S. warships at sea rather than docked in Bahrain, while Iran resumes activity at damaged nuclear sites.

With oil prices climbing and regional instability looming, today’s Geneva talks offer the last clear diplomatic offramp from a potential escalation that could extend far beyond the two nations.