Tehran, 26 February (H.S.): Iran mounted a fierce verbal counteroffensive against U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, branding his accusations big lies and vowing honorable diplomacy ahead of high-stakes nuclear negotiations in Geneva, even as American warships mass in the Middle East.

Tehran's retort came swiftly after Trump's State of the Union address, where he lambasted Iran's missile advancements threatening Europe and U.S. bases, alleging reconstitution of nuclear and weapons programs despite prior warnings.

Satellite imagery has shown Iran rebuilding missile sites and activity at three U.S.-struck nuclear facilities in June, though Tehran insists its program remains peaceful—contradicting Western and IAEA assertions of a weapons effort until 2003, with prior uranium enrichment nearing weapons-grade at 60%.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei likened Trump to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels, decrying a disinformation campaign on Iran's nukes, missiles, and January protest casualties—where Trump cited 32,000 deaths against activist tallies exceeding 7,000 and Tehran's 3,117 figure.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned of diplomacy or Iran’s wrath, pledging presence at the table if dignity and mutual interests prevail.With U.S. forces at decade-high regional deployment amid Iran's threats to American bases and smoldering Israel-Hamas embers, failure risks escalation into broader war.

Trump's brinkmanship unfolds against Iran's domestic unrest, as warships reposition from Bahrain per AP satellite analysis.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar