: Iran's supreme leader warned on Tuesday (February 17) that U.S. attempts to depose his government would fail, as Washington and Tehran began indirect talks in Geneva on their long-running nuclear dispute amid a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.

"The U.S. President says their army is the world's strongest, but the strongest army in the world can sometimes be slapped so hard it cannot get up," Ali Khamenei said during a speech just after the talks started.

Highlighting the necessity of deterrent weapons in Iran, Khamenei stated that the type and range of Iranian missiles are decisions for the nation and have nothing to do with the United States.

the u.s., which joined israel in bombing iran's nuclear facilities in june, has deployed a battle force to the region and u.s. president donald trump has said "regime change" in iran may be the best thing that can happen.

iran on monday carried out its own drill in the strait of hormuz, a key waterway for oil shipments.

iranian foreign minister abbas araqchi told reporters that iran and the united states reached an understanding on the main "guiding principles" in a second round of indirect talks over their nuclear dispute on tuesday (february 17) , but that does not mean a deal is imminent.

after the exchange of documents the two sides will decide on a date for a third round of negotiations, he said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: TEHRAN, IRAN (FEBRUARY 17, 2026) (POOL VIA WANA - No use Iran International. No use BBC Persian. No use VOA Persian. No use Manoto. No use Radio Farda.)

1. SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN, AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SPEAKING TO CROWD

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN, AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING:

"We must have deterrent weapons; if a country does not have deterrent weapons, it will be crushed under the feet of its enemies."

3. VARIOUS OF CROWD CHANTING (Farsi): "Death to enemies of the Guardianship of the Jurist (Khamenei), Death to the United States, Death to Britain."

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN, AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING:

"Deterrent weapons are one of the necessities of our nation. The Americans are interfering in this matter without any reason: 'You may have such and such missiles, you may have such range and not more', what does it have to do with you? It concerns the Iranian nation."

5. SPEECH IN PROGRESS

6. SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN, AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SPEAKING TO CROWD

7. VARIOUS OF CROWD LISTENING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN, AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING:

"It seems to them that, and the U.S. President keeps saying this, the U.S. army is the strongest army in the world; the strongest army in the world may sometimes get slapped so hard that it cannot stand up straight."

9. VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE APPLAUDING

10. CROWD CHANTING (Arabic): "God is Great"

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN, AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING:

"They say 'we sent a ship to Iran.' Of course, a warship is a dangerous vessel, but even more dangerous is the weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea."

12. VARIOUS OF CROWD CHANTING PRAISES TO THE SUPREME LEADER

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN, AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING:

"In one of his recent speeches, (the U.S. President) said that for 47 years, the U.S. has not been able to depose the Islamic Republic; he has complained to his own people that for 47 years, the U.S. has not been able to depose the Islamic Republic; This is a good confession. I say that you will not be able to do this either."

14. CROWD APPLAUDING

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN, AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING:

"They (Iranians) say that a nation like us with this culture, this history, and this high level of education will not swear allegiance to leaders like the corrupt people who are working in America today."

16. VARIOUS OF CROWD CHANTING (Farsi): "Neither compromise nor surrender. Confrontation with the United States"

17. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN, AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING:

"Must negotiations take place? There is no room for negotiations. If negotiations are to occur, it is wrong and foolish to predetermine their outcome. You say, 'Let's discuss this issue and reach an agreement,' but why would you decide the outcome in advance? Saying 'we must definitely reach this certain agreement' - that is foolish."

18. SPEECH IN PROGRESS