Rhetoric spikes as Trump, Iran trade warnings ahead of Geneva nuclear talks

Tensions escalated after Donald Trump used his State of the Union address to draw fresh red lines over Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Tehran hit back swiftly, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warning of a “decisive, strong response” to any military action.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei openly mocked Washington’s claims, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released fresh drill footage showcasing missile and drone capabilities. The exchange comes just days before another round of indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, underscoring the widening gulf between rhetoric and diplomacy.