Iran fires live missiles in Strait of Hormuz as US nuclear talks begin in Geneva | Top updates

This handout photo released by Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)'s official website Sepanews on February 16, 2026, shows a vehicle firing a missile during a military exercise by members of the IRGC and navy in the Gulf.

Iran fired live missiles and partially closed the Strait of Hormuz during naval drills, escalating tensions as US naval forces operated nearby. Despite renewed nuclear talks in Geneva, Iran’s leadership issued defiant statements against US military power.

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Iran escalated tensions in the Middle East on Tuesday by firing live missiles into the Strait of Hormuz, even as fresh nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington began in Geneva.

Earlier in the day, Fars News, an outlet affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, reported that parts of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz would be closed for several hours as part of a military exercise. While Iran has repeatedly threatened to disrupt shipping in the waterway, this marked the first instance of partial closure since the United States began openly warning of possible military action against Tehran.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Monday launched live-fire naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz. The exercises were led by IRGC naval forces under the supervision of IRGC Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour. State media said the drills were aimed at assessing the operational readiness of units, reviewing security plans, and rehearsing responses to potential military and security threats in the narrow waterway that handles a significant share of global oil shipments.

The timing of the exercises drew particular attention as the US Navy’s USS Abraham Lincoln was conducting round-the-clock flight operations in the Middle East, underscoring the heightened military posture on both sides.

The show of force came alongside renewed diplomatic engagement. Iran and the United States began fresh talks in Geneva on Tuesday, mediated by Oman, in an effort to avert the risk of direct US military action. Tehran has struck a cautiously optimistic tone, suggesting that Washington has adopted what it described as a “more realistic” approach toward Iran’s nuclear programme.

Reuters quoted a source as saying that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to take part in the negotiations. The Iranian side is being led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

Even as talks got underway, rhetoric from Tehran’s top leadership remained defiant. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a direct challenge to US President Donald Trump, warning that American military power was not invincible.

In a series of posts on X, Khamenei said: “The US President keeps saying that they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again."

He added: “The Americans constantly say that they’ve sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea."

Khamenei also dismissed long-standing US efforts to undermine the Islamic Republic, saying: “The US President has said that for 47 years, the United States hasn’t been able to eliminate the Islamic Republic. That is a good confession. I say, ‘You, too, will not be able to do this’."

The combination of live-fire drills in the Strait of Hormuz, the presence of US naval forces, and sharply worded statements from Iran’s leadership has added fresh volatility to an already fragile diplomatic moment, as negotiators in Geneva attempt to keep the nuclear dispute from tipping into open conflict.