Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a sharp warning to the United States, claiming Iran possesses weapons capable of sending American warships “to the bottom of the sea.” His remarks came as Iranian and US officials resumed nuclear negotiations in Geneva amid rising tensions.
Khamenei also shared an AI-generated image online depicting the USS Gerald R. Ford severely damaged and sinking. Posting on X, he said, “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.”
He went on to dismiss US claims about unmatched military strength. “The US president says his country has the strongest military in the world. But even the strongest army can sometimes be struck so hard that it cannot get back on its feet,” he added.
Tensions during nuclear talks
The comments come as both sides met in Geneva for a second round of discussions over Iran’s nuclear programme, particularly uranium enrichment limits. The talks are aimed at reviving or reshaping the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which fell apart after the US withdrew.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who is leading Tehran’s delegation, said the two sides have agreed on some broad “guiding principles” for a possible agreement. Speaking to Iranian media, he noted that several ideas were discussed in detail and that negotiations would now move toward drafting a potential text.
On the US side, President Donald Trump said he hoped talks would succeed but warned that failure would be “a bad day for Iran.”
Military moves in the region
Meanwhile, the United States has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln alongside the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East under the US Central Command area of responsibility.
Iran, for its part, has carried out naval drills involving live missile fire in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route, further adding to the tense atmosphere.
Despite the strong rhetoric, officials from both countries say discussions are continuing, though major disagreements — especially over uranium enrichment — remain unresolved.