Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has threatened American aircraft carriers as US-Iran negotiations opened Tuesday in Geneva, warning that the "strongest military in the world" could suffer a blow from which it cannot recover.
The round of talks between the US and Iran opened Tuesday in Geneva, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in attendance. Iranian sources have already sent cool messages to Reuters and made it clear that Iran expects the removal of American sanctions on the country.
"You too will not be able to bring down the Islamic Republic"
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivered remarks at a gathering in the city of Tabriz in the East Azerbaijan province (northwestern Iran) and threatened President Trump with strikes on American aircraft carriers.
.@POTUS on Iran: "I don't think they want the consequences of not making a deal." pic.twitter.com/I8opqgdueb
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 17, 2026
"It seems the American president keeps saying that their military is the strongest in the world. The strongest military in the world can sometimes suffer a blow so severe that it cannot recover. They keep saying they sent an aircraft carrier toward Iran. Very good, an aircraft carrier is indeed a dangerous tool, but more dangerous than it is the weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea," Khamenei said.
"The American president said in one of his recent speeches that for 47 years, America has not succeeded in eliminating the Islamic Republic – he complained to his people. That's a good admission. I say, you too will not succeed in doing that," the leader defied.
After reports of Iranian missiles fired in the most important shipping passage in the Persian Gulf, Tehran announced the Strait of Hormuz would be closed to all types of shipping for several hours due to a "Smart Control" exercise being conducted by the IRGC Navy.
Additionally, Nikolai Patrushev, aide to the Russian president, announced that "warships from Iran, Russia and China set out to the Strait of Hormuz for the Maritime Security Belt 2026 exercise," the Iranian news agency IRNA reported.
According to Patrushev, this marks the seventh round of exercises held since 2018, during which "scenarios simulating real threats at sea will be conducted over several days."
