Disappointment over the Geneva talks and a rising risk of war

What he says

An English translation of the talk, which is in Persian. It was made with AI from YouTube's automatic captions and may contain errors; the Persian transcript is authoritative. Click a timestamp to jump to that part of the video.

0:01 Hello. It is Wednesday, the 6th of Esfand 1404, February 25, 2026. Mr. Trump's speech to the US Congress, known as the President's annual address, was one of the longest speeches US presidents have given at this annual event. It was delivered last night, and about four to five minutes of it was devoted to the issue of Iran. In some respects, Mr. Trump's remarks repeated what he has said before, but two or three key points can be raised. The first point is that

0:57 for the second time he cited 32,000 killed, which is very far from the figures the Islamic Republic itself gives, three thousand and something. Presumably Mr. Trump is stating such a figure on the basis of reliable intelligence sources, such as the US intelligence agencies. Another point he raised was that he brought up the missile issue and said the Islamic Republic has missiles with a range of up to 3,000 kilometers that can reach Europe, as well as US bases, and that it is also working on ballistic missiles whose range could in the future reach the United States as well.

1:57 He considered that threat serious. On nuclear weapons, he stated that the world's most terrorist government, in short, cannot have a nuclear weapon, and he said very clearly, "We will not allow such a thing to happen." The important point was that when he made these remarks about Iran, both parties rose to their feet and applauded. As for applause after the President's remarks in Congress, much of the time his own party applauds while the other party sits silently and says nothing. But when both parties stand up, it is a sign that in the US Congress the issue

2:54 of confronting the Islamic Republic in effect enjoys the support of both parties. There was also the meeting known as the "Gang of Eight" meeting. For years in America, the eight most important leaders of the US Congress from both chambers have been known as the Gang of Eight, and this meeting was held with Mr. Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State. It is usually held when the administration wants to consult Congress and share an important matter with it. Many analysts inside the US believe that the subject was the Islamic Republic, and possibly war with the Islamic Republic. And Mr.

3:53 Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Senate Democrats, when asked after this meeting, said only that it was an important matter that the public should be informed about. As for the nuclear negotiations, they are scheduled to take place tomorrow in Geneva, at the same residence of the Omani ambassador, with Mr. Araghchi on this side and Mr. Witkoff on the other side talking with each other. But the news we are hearing, from European sources as well as Arab and Middle Eastern sources and others, is that the gap between the two sides for reaching an agreement is wide and the chance of an agreement is very slim. The question of whether, if they fail to reach an agreement, war will follow

4:57 and Mr. Trump will attack Iran is being raised. It is a serious question; in any case we have to wait and see tomorrow's outcome, and then see what happens after that. Meanwhile, on the 4th and 5th of Esfand, Monday and Tuesday, the day before yesterday and yesterday, a meeting was held in London that was named the Coordination Council. More than 30 people attended this meeting from Iran's ethnic parties, Kurdish, Baluch, Turkish and Turkmen parties, in addition to

5:53 representatives of the republican factions, the monarchists and the constitutionalists, as well as representatives of Iran's civil society, civil activists, political prisoners, artists, university professors and others. The aim of this meeting was to lay the groundwork for holding a congress that is scheduled to take place on the 10th of Farvardin in this same city of London, called the Iran Freedom Congress. The main themes raised in this meeting

6:48 are that Iranian society is a pluralistic society, with great plurality and diversity in terms of different ethnic groups, different languages, different religions, different orientations, and a diverse and extensive civil society. Therefore, first, this plurality must be recognized. Second, on the basis of tolerance and the recognition of all these pluralities and factions, this diversity must be made to work, so that they work together and talk to one another. Likewise, setting aside hate-mongering and

7:49 extreme radicalism, which can lead to conflict and drag our country into internal strife, is an essential prerequisite for building Iran's future democracy, based on tolerance, on recognition of cultural, linguistic and religious plurality and different beliefs, and also on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its supplementary instruments, and on secularism as one of the foundations, the separation of religion and state. To reach such a goal, it is in fact necessary that, starting today, through cooperation with one another and respect for each other's beliefs,

8:50 we be able to work together. These more than 30 people met in an atmosphere of great understanding and solidarity, based on the principle that the door is open to everyone of every orientation. Just as every kind of orientation, belief and faction exists in Iranian society, the same diversity, reflecting our Iran, must also be felt and seen among the active political, civil and cultural forces. And the upcoming Iran Freedom Congress, which this thirty-some-member Coordination Council is responsible for preparing, can, on the basis of these same principles, be the first step

9:52 toward creating a path in which this solidarity, empathy and walking together can serve both in bringing down the system of religious despotism, the Islamic Republic, and in the stage of consolidating democratic power in Iran, and so that this cooperation, solidarity and unity of voice can also be used in building the democracy of the future. Hoping for the victory of Iran and Iranians.