Iran on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, sharply criticized the United States and Israel for what it described as a systematic campaign of "disinformation" and "big lies" regarding its nuclear program, ballistic missile capabilities, and other sensitive issues.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, posting on X (formerly Twitter), accused Washington and Tel Aviv of invoking Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels' tactic of repeating falsehoods until they are accepted as truth. “'Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth,' is a law of propaganda coined by Nazi Joseph Goebbels,” Baghaei wrote. “This is now systematically used by the US administration and the war profiteers encircling it, particularly the genocidal Israeli regime, to serve their sinister disinformation & misinformation campaign against the Nation of Iran.”
Baghaei specifically rejected allegations concerning Iran's nuclear activities, ballistic missile program, and reported casualties during January 2026 unrest, calling them “prominent untruths” designed to mislead the international community. “No one should be fooled by these prominent untruths,” he added.
In a separate address to economic activists and trade association representatives in Tehran, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned US President Donald Trump against making decisions based on “wrong information.” Qalibaf claimed Iran had been attacked during nuclear negotiations with the United States in June 2025, accusing Washington of coordinating with Israel and describing the outcome as a “disgraceful defeat” for both powers.
He referenced recent remarks by US envoy Steve Witkoff on Fox News, who said Trump was puzzled why Iran had not “capitulated” despite the significant US military buildup in the region. “The answer is clear: they do not have proper knowledge, understanding, or perception of the Iranian nation,” Qalibaf asserted.
The Iranian statements came one day after President Trump, in his 2026 State of the Union address to Congress, reiterated his preference for diplomacy while issuing a firm warning: “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain: I will never allow the world's number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon. Can't let that happen.”
Trump's comments reflect the administration's dual-track approach—pursuing indirect nuclear talks while maintaining a robust military posture in the Middle East, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups, additional fighter squadrons, and reinforced assets at regional bases such as Al Udeid in Qatar.
A third round of indirect US-Iran nuclear negotiations, mediated by Oman, is scheduled for Thursday, February 26, in Geneva. Iran is expected to present a draft proposal following earlier rounds held in Oman on February 6 and Geneva on February 17. Tehran has insisted that any agreement must include comprehensive sanctions relief, while Washington demands verifiable limits on Iran's nuclear enrichment, ballistic missile development, and regional proxy activities.
Iranian officials have repeatedly accused the US and Israel of fabricating pretexts for military intervention and regime change. Tehran has vowed a “ferocious” response to any attack—even a limited one—while maintaining that its nuclear program is peaceful and its missile arsenal defensive.
The war of words underscores the precarious balance between diplomacy and escalation as indirect talks resume amid a massive US military presence and mutual threats of force. Iranian leaders continue to frame Western allegations as propaganda aimed at justifying aggression, while the Trump administration portrays its stance as necessary to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.
