On February 17, 2026, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stark warning to the United States regarding its military presence in the Persian Gulf, stating that U.S. warships could be 'sunk to the bottom of the sea.' Khamenei's remarks came during a speech in Tehran, where he criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, asserting that the 'strongest military force in the world' might face a blow from which it could not recover. He emphasized, 'The United States has not been able to remove the Islamic Republic for 47 years,' a statement that reflects Iran's defiance amid ongoing nuclear negotiations in Geneva. His comments were made in the context of live-fire missile drills conducted by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), highlighting the heightened military tensions as diplomacy unfolds. According to NDTV, Khamenei's threats coincide with Trump's military posturing, which has included threats of action should negotiations fail, creating a precarious situation in the region.