Tehran Fires Live Missiles Into Strait Of Hormuz Amid Nuclear Talks With US In Geneva

Last Updated:February 17, 2026, 17:39 IST

Iran fired live missiles and closed parts of the Strait of Hormuz during IRGC-led drills as nuclear talks began in Geneva with US envoys, amid Khamenei's challenge to Trump.

Iran on Tuesday fired live missiles into Strait of Hormuz as nuclear talks started in Geneva.

Earlier in the day, Fars News, which is affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, reported that parts of the Strait of Hormuz will be closed for several hours during a military exercise.

The outlet reported that the temporary closure is linked to the “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz" drill and is aimed at ensuring safety and navigation principles during the exercise.

However, this is the first time that Iran has closed parts of the strait since the US began threatening Iran with military action.

Iran on Monday launched live-fire naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz led by the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under the supervision of IRGC Commander in Chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

Also Read: ‘You Won’t Be Able To Eliminate Iran’: Khamenei’s Challenge To Trump Amid High Tensions

State media said the exercise was organised to assess the readiness of operational units, review security plans and rehearse responses to potential security and military threats in the strategic waterway.

The exercises took place as the USS Abraham Lincoln carried out round-the-clock flight operations in the Middle East.

This comes as Iran and the US began fresh talks in Geneva on Tuesday with aimed to avert the possibility of US military action, with Tehran expressing cautious optimism at Washington’s “more realistic" position on its nuclear programme.

Also Read: Iran Holds Fire Drills In Strait of Hormuz As US Carrier Flies Non-Stop Ahead Of Geneva Nuclear Talks

Reuters quoted a source saying that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will take part in the negotiations, which are being mediated by Oman, alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday challenged US President Donald Trump to destroy Iran and said the ‘strongest military force in the world’ could be struck “so hard that it cannot get up again". This comes as the US and Iran started their indirect talks in Geneva over the nuclear dispute.

In a series of posts on X, Khamenei said: “The US President keeps saying that they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again."

“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 further said.

“The US President has said that for 47 years, the United States hasn’t been able to eliminate the Islamic Republic. That is a good confession. I say, ‘You, too, will not be able to do this’," he added.

News world Tehran Fires Live Missiles Into Strait Of Hormuz Amid Nuclear Talks With US In Geneva

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