18.02.2026 22:21
A new threat has come from the United States to Iran. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated, "There are many justifications that can be put forward for an attack on Iran. It would be wise for Iran to make a deal. Otherwise, the U.S. may need to use the Diego Garcia Base." Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the U.S. wants to seize the natural resources of various countries, saying, "We do not want to fight."
The White House spokesperson stated, "There are many reasons for an attack on Iran; it would be wise for them to reach an agreement."
US AND IRAN ON THE BRINK OF WAR
Tensions between the US and Iran have risen once again. The positive atmosphere created during negotiations quickly dissipated, bringing the two countries to the brink of war.
WHITE HOUSE: IT WOULD BE WISE FOR IRAN TO REACH AN AGREEMENT
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that there are many reasons for an attack on Iran. Leavitt said, "Many reasons can be put forward for an attack on Iran. It would be wise for Iran to reach an agreement. Otherwise, the US may need to use Diego Garcia Base."
PEZESHKIAN: WE DO NOT WANT TO FIGHT, BUT WE WILL NOT BOW
According to Iran's official news agency IRNA, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with civil society representatives during his visit to Lorestan province for various contacts.
Pezeshkian emphasized in his statement that the US's concerns about democracy in Iran are merely a deception, stating, "The US has clearly stated that it wants to seize Venezuelan oil. It is similarly adopting a stance against Canada and other countries. We do not want to fight. I believe we need to set aside war. However, if a forceful imposition is made, we will not bow."
Pezeshkian also commented on issues related to his country, saying, "We are aware that there is an unjust situation in Lorestan, East and West Azerbaijan, Sistan-Baluchestan, North and South Khorasan, Khuzestan, and even many regions. However, we are trying to eliminate this injustice. Of course, these are not problems that can be solved overnight."
Pezeshkian further stated that Iranian society is under great pressure and is therefore "wounded," emphasizing the need to alleviate this pressure together with intellectuals, sociologists, entrepreneurs, religious leaders, and prominent opinion leaders in society.
US ACCELERATES DEPLOYMENT TO ITS BASES IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Following the talks held in Geneva with Iran yesterday, the US continues to send munitions to the Middle East and Europe. According to information from some social media accounts that track and analyze open-source intelligence, the warplanes and other elements sent by the US to the Middle East in recent days are the same as those used during the attacks on Iran in June 2025.
WARPLANES AT THE BASE
According to flight information obtained from open sources, six F-22 fighter jets from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia arrived at RAF Lakenheath in the UK as of yesterday. An RC-135 Rivet Joint signal intelligence aircraft conducting mission flights from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar was also moved to the island of Crete in the Mediterranean.
Numerous P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, including one that was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, are conducting mission flights in the Middle East.
On February 16, it was observed that 18 F-35 aircraft departed from RAF Lakenheath in the UK, accompanied by air refueling tankers towards the region. The US also sent two E-3 Sentry AWACS airborne command and control aircraft to RAF Mildenhall Air Base in the UK yesterday.
USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN DEPLOYED TO THE MIDDLE EAST
The region is witnessing increasing tensions due to the unprecedented military buildup by the US in the Middle East in preparation for a possible attack if Washington does not respond to Iran's nuclear program demands.
US President Donald Trump stated on January 28 via social media that a massive "Armada" (a large naval force belonging to the US Navy) was advancing towards Iran, calling on the Tehran administration to reach an agreement, otherwise, a "worse attack" would be carried out.
NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN IRAN AND THE US
Yesterday, a second round of nuclear negotiations lasting 2.5 hours took place in Geneva, Switzerland, mediated by Oman, between Iran and the US.
In the Geneva talks, the Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the US side was represented by Steve Witkoff, the US President Donald Trump's Special Representative for the Middle East.
Jared Kushner, Trump's advisor, was also part of the US delegation, and the talks were conducted under the coordination of Oman's Foreign Minister Bedr bin Hamed al-Busaidi.
ARAGHCHI: WE HAVE ENTERED THE PATH OF AN AGREEMENT
During the meetings held in Geneva, Araghchi and Witkoff met separately with Busaidi. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reported that they have entered the path of an agreement in the second round of nuclear negotiations and that both sides agreed to work on and exchange views regarding a possible agreement text.