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Iran has sharply rebuffed allegations from the United States and Israel regarding its nuclear program and missile capabilities, dismissing them as deliberate misinformation amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei responded forcefully to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, in which Trump vowed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and claimed Iran is developing missiles capable of reaching American territory.
“‘Repeat a lie often enough, and it becomes the truth’ is a law of propaganda coined by Nazi Joseph Goebbels. This is now systematically used by the U.S. administration and the war profiteers encircling it, particularly the genocidal Israeli regime, to serve their sinister disinformation campaign against the nation of Iran,” Baghaei stated on social media platform X.
The spokesperson specifically rejected claims about Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and casualty figures from January’s unrest as “the repetition of ‘big lies.'”
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reinforced this position, telling business leaders in Tehran: “We have said this many times. We have not pursued nuclear weapons, we are not pursuing them, and we will not pursue them.” Ghalibaf suggested Trump is being “misinformed,” leading to poor decision-making.
The diplomatic confrontation comes at a particularly sensitive moment, with nuclear talks scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. Ghalibaf issued a stern warning about potential military action during negotiations: “If the enemy decides to repeat its past behavior based on false information and attacks and bombs Iran in the middle of the negotiation and diplomacy process, it will undoubtedly taste the harsh response of the Iranian nation and its defense forces.”
Meanwhile, the United States has assembled its largest military presence in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq War. Open-source intelligence reveals more than 300 U.S. military aircraft deployed across the region, primarily at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, and Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Two aircraft carriers, the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford, also maintain significant air power in the area.
The logistical effort behind this buildup has been substantial, with approximately 270 C-17 and C-5 transport flights to U.S. Central Command since early January. These operations have delivered not only personnel but also Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile systems to bolster regional defenses.
The American air arsenal now in the region consists predominantly of fighter aircraft, including 84 F-18E/F, 36 F-15E, 48 F-16C, and 42 F-35A/C jets—making up nearly 70% of the deployed aircraft. The remaining 30% includes electronic warfare platforms, close air support aircraft, and surveillance systems.
Further escalating the situation, Israeli media reported Tuesday that 12 U.S. F-22 stealth fighters had landed at an Israeli air base in southern Israel. These highly advanced aircraft specialize in penetrating enemy airspace and neutralizing air defense systems. Reports indicate an additional six F-22s were spotted departing from Langley Air Force Base, presumably en route to join the others in Israel.
This development effectively doubles the potential air power that could be directed against Iran, as Israel maintains its own substantial fighter fleet of 66 F-15I/C/D, 173 F-16I/C/D, and 48 F-35 jets.
The diplomatic and military tensions emerge against the backdrop of stalled negotiations. The talks set to resume Thursday represent the first substantial diplomatic engagement since negotiations were halted following Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran in June 2025.
Military analysts note that unlike Operation Midnight Hammer last June, no movements of B-2 stealth bombers have been observed in the current buildup, potentially signaling differences in strategic planning or mission objectives.
As regional stakeholders await Thursday’s talks in Geneva, the combination of heated rhetoric and unprecedented military positioning has raised international concerns about the potential for miscalculation in this volatile standoff.
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10 Comments
It’s concerning to see the ongoing tensions and accusations regarding Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities. I hope diplomacy and transparency can prevail to reduce risks and find a peaceful resolution.
Agreed. Escalating rhetoric and misinformation serve no one’s interests. Open and honest dialogue is crucial to address these complex issues constructively.
This back-and-forth between Iran and the US/Israel highlights the need for impartial international monitoring and verification of nuclear and missile programs. Objective data is key to finding common ground.
Iran’s forceful rejection of the allegations raises important questions about the reliability of the claims. I’m curious to hear more details and perspectives from both sides to better understand the situation.
Absolutely, more transparency and fact-finding are needed here. Propagandists on all sides tend to distort the truth, so it’s important to seek impartial sources.
This dispute over Iran’s nuclear and missile programs is deeply concerning. I hope cooler heads can prevail and that diplomacy can find a way to reduce tensions and verify compliance.
The use of propaganda tactics to push certain narratives is troubling. I agree we need a more balanced, evidence-based approach to address these sensitive geopolitical issues.
Absolutely. Relying on truth and facts rather than inflamed rhetoric is the only way to make meaningful progress on complex security challenges like this.
The claims and counterclaims make it difficult to discern the truth. I hope rigorous inspections and diplomacy can uncover the facts and chart a path forward that enhances regional stability.
Agreed. Resorting to propaganda and inflamed rhetoric will only deepen the divisions. A fact-based, diplomatic approach is essential to resolve these longstanding disputes.