Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 10:09am on 18 Feb 2026,Wednesday International
US-Iran tensions remain volatile despite "general agreement" reached after second-round nuclear talks in Geneva on Tuesday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed both sides agreed on guiding principles toward a potential deal that would lift sanctions on Tehran. However, no date has been set for a third round, with Araghchi warning the next stage would be "more difficult." Simultaneously, the US deployed over 50 fighter jets and the world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Middle East. Iran temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz and announced joint naval drills with Russia in the Sea of Oman on Thursday. Trump reminded Tehran of the June 2025 B-2 bomber strike, urging Iran to be "reasonable."
