Khamenei Warns Iran Could Sink US Warships
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that the country possesses the capability to sink American warships stationed in the Gulf region.
Khamenei’s threat was delivered on Tuesday (17 February) local time, following a build-up of US military forces in the region as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Iran to reach an agreement on its nuclear programme.
With Oman acting as mediator, the US and Iran have been engaged in talks aimed at preventing potential US military action, whilst Tehran demands the lifting of American sanctions that have crippled its economy.
Delegations from both countries were seen leaving the venue of talks at the Omani ambassador’s residence on Tuesday afternoon local time.
“We keep hearing that they have sent a warship towards Iran. A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but what is more dangerous is the weapon capable of sinking it,” Khamenei said in a speech, as reported by Al Arabiya on Wednesday (18 February 2026).
He added that Trump would not succeed in destroying the Islamic Republic.
Trump had previously warned of consequences should Tehran fail to reach a deal. He has repeatedly threatened military intervention, initially over the Iranian authorities’ crackdown on protesters last month, and subsequently over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Washington has ordered two aircraft carriers to the region, with the first, USS Abraham Lincoln along with nearly 80 military aircraft, positioned approximately 700 kilometres (435 miles) from Iran’s coastline on Sunday, according to satellite imagery.
A second aircraft carrier was dispatched over the weekend as Trump ramped up the pressure.
“I don’t think they want to bear the consequences of not reaching a deal,” Trump told reporters ahead of the talks.
The Iranian government insists that the talks be limited to nuclear issues, although Washington had previously pushed for other topics to be discussed, including Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its support for armed groups in the region.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Tuesday (17 February) that the lifting of sanctions must form an integral part of any agreement.