Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva to attend the second round of high-level nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026. US President Donald Trump said he would be ‘indirectly’ involved in the discussions, describing them as highly important and expressing belief that Iran was interested in reaching an agreement. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi is again serving as mediator.

In the first round of talks, held under Omani mediation, Tehran pledged to reduce uranium enrichment by 60 percent. Araghchi stated that Iran came to the second round with practical proposals aimed at achieving a ‘fair and balanced’ agreement. On the US side, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to participate, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that reaching a deal would not be easy despite diplomatic opportunities.

Ahead of the meeting, Iran reiterated that no agreement would be possible without easing sanctions and rejected any demand for zero uranium enrichment, insisting that any deal must be based on mutual concessions.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) began a series of military exercises on Monday in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to the country’s state media. The drills are being conducted under the supervision of the IRGC’s top commander and involve naval forces operating in the key Gulf waterway.

The report from Tehran, citing AFP, noted that the exercises follow the recent deployment of a large U.S. naval fleet in the Gulf region. Iranian state television said the maneuvers are intended to strengthen regional security, reflecting Tehran’s position that the drills are defensive in nature.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime route for global energy shipments, and the timing of the IRGC’s exercises suggests heightened military activity in the area following increased U.S. presence.

Seventy-three fishermen who had been detained by the Arakan Army in Myanmar were repatriated to Bangladesh through the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar on Monday, February 16, 2026. Among them, 66 are Bangladeshi nationals and seven are residents of Rohingya camps. The handover took place at the zero line of the Naf River, followed by official reception at Teknaf Jetty Ghat. Local administration, union council representatives, and law enforcement agencies verified their identities before initiating the process of returning them to their families.

According to official sources, the fishermen had unintentionally crossed into Myanmar waters while fishing in the Bay of Bengal at various times in 2025, leading to their detention by the Arakan Army. They were held in different camps under the group’s control inside Myanmar. In response, security forces in the Cox’s Bazar region coordinated efforts on humanitarian grounds to secure their release through sustained communication and negotiation.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan of the Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB) described the return before Ramadan as a positive humanitarian development and confirmed that efforts continue to bring back the remaining detained fishermen.

Afghanistan has announced that it will assist Iran if the United States launches a military attack and Tehran requests help. Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid made the statement on Sunday, February 15, emphasizing that Afghans would show solidarity with Iran. He added that Afghanistan does not support war and prefers peaceful solutions through dialogue.

The spokesperson noted that Iran has recently shown restraint, and Afghanistan hopes no conflict will erupt between Washington and Tehran. The statement comes as instability spreads across the Middle East, with the United States deploying the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships in preparation for a possible strike on Iran. Another carrier is reportedly heading to the region.

Several Middle Eastern countries are attempting to prevent a potential war, fearing that a large-scale conflict would cause severe economic and humanitarian damage across the region.

The Israeli government has approved the resumption of land registration in the West Bank, a move that has triggered strong criticism from Arab nations and rights groups. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the initiative aims to clarify land ownership and resolve legal disputes transparently, citing illegal registrations under the Palestinian Authority as justification. The registration will take place only in Area C, which covers about 60 percent of the West Bank and remains under Israeli security and administrative control.

Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan denounced the decision as a violation of international law. Egypt described it as a dangerous step to consolidate Israeli control over occupied Palestinian territory, while Qatar warned it would undermine Palestinian rights by declaring land as “state property.” The Palestinian Authority called for international intervention, saying the move marks the beginning of annexation and weakens the foundation of a future Palestinian state. Israeli group Peace Now labeled the decision a “mega land grab.”

Israeli media reported that this is the first time since the 1967 war that land registration will resume in the West Bank, where over 500,000 Israelis and about 3 million Palestinians currently live.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inaugurated a new housing project in Pyongyang for the families of soldiers killed while fighting on Russia’s side in the Ukraine war. State media released photos on Monday showing Kim visiting the newly built apartments with his daughter. The initiative is presented as a tribute to the fallen soldiers, described as martyrs, and as a move to strengthen internal unity while reaffirming support for Russia.

According to South Korean and Western intelligence sources cited in the report, North Korea has sent thousands of troops to fight for Russia, with Seoul estimating around two thousand North Korean soldiers killed. Analysts suggest Pyongyang is receiving financial aid, military technology, and supplies of food and fuel from Moscow in return. The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim praised the fallen as heroes who sacrificed their lives for sacred national values.

Although Monday’s report did not directly mention Russia, it follows Kim’s recent pledge of unconditional support for all policies and decisions of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Geneva for a second round of nuclear talks with the United States, aimed at easing tensions and preventing a new military conflict. In a post on social media platform X on Monday, Araghchi stated that Iran will not surrender in the face of threats.

Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any attack on Iran could escalate into a regional conflict. Araghchi said he came to Geneva to achieve a fair and just agreement, emphasizing that surrender to threats is not on the negotiation table. The renewed discussions between Iran and the United States began earlier this month.

Araghchi also mentioned that Iranian nuclear experts would meet with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi on Monday. Iran has repeatedly asserted that it will not accept Washington’s demand to reduce uranium enrichment to zero and that its missile program will not be part of the negotiations.

Eight people were killed and two others injured in an explosion at a fireworks shop in Donghai County, Jiangsu Province, eastern China, on Sunday afternoon. Local sources said several villagers were handling fireworks unsafely, which led to the blast around 2:30 p.m. Authorities quickly arrived at the scene, and the fire was brought under control by 4 p.m. The injured were taken to a local hospital, and families of the deceased were notified.

The incident occurred as China entered the Lunar New Year festive period, during which fireworks are widely used. Authorities had already issued safety warnings regarding the handling of fireworks during the celebrations. The explosion highlights ongoing safety concerns surrounding the use and storage of fireworks in rural areas.

Earlier this month, a biotech factory explosion in Shanxi Province killed eight people, and another blast at a steel plant in a nearby region in late January left at least nine dead, underscoring a series of recent industrial accidents across China.

Ukraine launched a drone attack on Russia’s Taman port along the Black Sea coast, causing extensive damage to the facility. The port, a key hub for Russia’s grain and fuel exports, was hit late at night by multiple drones, triggering a massive fire and thick black smoke over the area. According to reports, the attack left two people injured and forced a temporary shutdown of port operations.

Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev stated on Telegram that the port’s oil storage systems, warehouses, and terminals were almost completely destroyed. Russian authorities said their defense systems managed to shoot down several drones, but some struck critical infrastructure directly. Firefighters worked for hours to bring the blaze under control.

Ukraine also carried out drone strikes on the nearby coastal city of Sochi and the village of Yurovka in Anapa on the same night, though no casualties or damage reports have yet emerged from those areas.

The United States will support Israel in launching a strike on Iran if negotiations with Tehran fail, according to multiple US media reports cited by Anadolu Agency. The reports state that President Donald Trump assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of this position during a meeting in December, specifically regarding Iran’s ballistic missile program.

CBS News reported that discussions in Washington have shifted from whether Israel can carry out such an attack to how the US could assist technically and diplomatically. Sources familiar with the matter said the proposed cooperation includes aerial refueling to extend the range of Israeli aircraft and securing overflight permissions from neighboring sovereign states.

However, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly refused to allow their airspace to be used for any attack on Iran, complicating potential operational plans.

The Israeli government has approved a proposal to register large areas of the occupied West Bank as state property, marking the first such decision since Israel’s occupation of the territory in 1967, according to the country’s public broadcaster Kan. The Palestinian Authority has strongly condemned the move, describing it as legally invalid and a violation of international law.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the main objective of Israel’s decision is to annex the West Bank and advance settlement expansion. The ministry declared on social media platform X that it rejects any attempt by the occupiers to convert Palestinian land into state property and denounced efforts to legitimize illegal settlements, land theft, and annexation.

The ministry further stated that the decision contradicts United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which deems Israeli settlements in all occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, illegal under international law.

Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi has warned that any U.S. military action against Tehran would serve as a ‘lesson’ for President Donald Trump. Speaking after Trump’s recent remarks, Mousavi said that if Trump truly seeks war, he should not simultaneously talk about negotiations. His comments were reported by TRT World.

On Friday, President Trump stated that regime change in Iran might be the ‘best solution’ and indicated that if ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran fail, the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford would soon be deployed to the region. Mousavi described Trump’s comments as reckless and reiterated that discussions and war threats cannot go hand in hand.

Earlier, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to intensify economic pressure on Iran, particularly targeting its oil sales to China. However, a senior U.S. official noted differences between the two leaders on how to achieve this goal, with Netanyahu doubting the reliability of any deal with Iran while Trump maintained that an agreement remains possible.

The United States carried out airstrikes on more than 30 Islamic State (IS) bases in Syria between February 3 and February 12, according to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The strikes targeted IS infrastructure, weapons depots, and communication facilities. CENTCOM said the operations were conducted in response to a December attack by IS that killed two US soldiers and their interpreter. Drones and other advanced weapons were used in the missions.

The December attack had claimed the lives of two Iowa National Guard reservists and injured three members of Syria’s security forces. Following the incident, CENTCOM launched a series of retaliatory operations under “Operation Hawkeye Strike.” In January, CENTCOM forces also killed Bilal Hasan al-Jamis, an al-Qaeda-linked figure. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that those who attack or conspire against US citizens or troops would find no safe haven.

CENTCOM reported that from late January to mid-February, five additional strikes targeted IS weapons and communication centers. Over the past two months, US forces have hit more than 100 IS sites, killing or capturing at least 50 IS fighters.

More than 50,000 members of Israel’s military hold citizenship from other countries, according to official army data published by the daily Yedioth Ahronoth. The figures were released after the transparency organization Hatzlacha filed a request under Israel’s Freedom of Information law. The data show that 50,632 soldiers have dual nationality, including 12,135 with U.S. citizenship, 6,127 with French citizenship, and over 5,000 with Russian citizenship.

The report further notes that more than 3,000 soldiers hold German citizenship and a similar number hold Ukrainian citizenship. Over 1,000 soldiers have British nationality, while 1,686 are Romanian, 1,387 Polish, and 185 Canadian citizens. A smaller number hold citizenship from Arab countries such as Yemen, Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria, and Algeria. Additionally, 4,440 soldiers possess two foreign citizenships besides Israeli, and 162 hold three.

The army did not clarify whether the data include active-duty or reserve members. Israeli media estimate about 170,000 active soldiers and between 400,000 and 460,000 reservists. The statistics were requested in March 2025 and are considered the first detailed public disclosure on foreign citizenship among Israeli military personnel.

Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss regional and global security, as well as mutual counterterrorism cooperation. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 62nd Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday. According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the two sides exchanged views on security conditions and measures against terrorism.

During his visit to Germany from February 12 to 14, Asim Munir also held meetings with German officials, including Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, the Chancellor’s foreign and security policy adviser Gunter Sauter, and Defense Chief General Carsten Breuer. Discussions focused on bilateral defense cooperation and advancing global peace through dialogue.

Munir additionally met with Brazil’s Chief of the Joint Staff Admiral Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire and Lebanon’s Armed Forces Commander General Rodolf Heikal. These meetings emphasized strengthening bilateral and multilateral defense ties to promote international stability and security.