Iran has sharply rejected what it describes as American pressure tactics ahead of high-stakes nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Thursday, with officials swinging between defiance and cautious optimism about the prospect of reaching a diplomatic agreement.
The war of words comes as Washington has assembled its largest military presence in West Asia in decades, deploying aircraft and warships in a show of force widely seen as leverage ahead of the talks. Satellite imagery appeared to show US naval vessels, usually stationed in Bahrain where the Navy’s 5th Fleet is headquartered, repositioned out at sea.
Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran should the negotiations break down, a warning that has deepened anxiety across a region still unsettled by the drawn-out conflict between Israel and Hamas. Iran has responded by declaring all American military installations in the region fair targets, raising the stakes for the tens of thousands of US troops stationed there.
Adding to Tehran’s pressures, the country has been grappling with significant domestic unrest following a wave of nationwide protests last month.
