Iran Hails ‘Encouraging Signals’ But Warns “Ferocious” Response To US Strikes, As India Issues Safety Advisory

Iran has welcomed the “encouraging signals” from the US on their nuclear talks, even as it warned that it would “ferociously” respond to any US strikes on it, while India issued a safety advisory to its citizens living in Iran to leave the West Asian nation at the earliest by any means possible, fearing an American attack.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the nuclear talks with the US produced encouraging signals, but he also warned simultaneously that Tehran was prepared for any situation, ahead of the next round of talks on Thursday (February 26, 2026).

His comments on Sunday (February 22) came amidst mounting fears of a military conflict between the two nations, as the US built up its military strength in the region. “Iran is committed to peace and stability in the region,” Pezeshkian wrote on X.

“Recent negotiations involved the exchange of practical proposals and yielded encouraging signals. However, we continue to closely monitor US actions and have made all necessary preparations for any potential scenario,” he said.

US President Donald Trump had warned earlier of “really bad things” happening if Iran did not agree to a deal on the nuclear weapons programme during the Thursday (February 26) talks.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi confirmed a third round of indirect talks between the two sides in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Pleased to confirm US-Iran negotiations are now set for Geneva this Thursday (February 26), with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalising the deal,” said al-Busaidi, who acts as a mediator in indirect talks between Washington and Tehran.

Iran also warned the United States that any attack would be met “ferociously” in response to President Donald Trump’s threat of limited strikes, while students staged new protests against the Islamic republic.

Tehran’s foreign ministry said on Monday (February 23) that any strike, even limited, “would be regarded as an act of aggression. Period.” And “any state would react to an act of aggression as part of its inherent right of self-defence ferociously so that’s what we would do,” ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a briefing in Tehran.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Tehran advised Indian nationals to “leave Iran using available means of transport” even as fears mounted of a possible US strikes on Iran in recent weeks, as both sides issued military escalation signals if their talks on Iran’s nuclear programme in Geneva on Thursday (February 26) did not produce results.

The Indian embassy’s advisory came even as there were fresh protests in Iran against the government, renewing fears of street violence witnessed in January 2025 against what the protestors called governance failure by Tehran.

“In continuation of the advisory issued by the Government of India on 5 January 2026, and in view of the evolving situation in Iran, Indian nationals who are currently in Iran — students, pilgrims, business persons and tourists — are advised to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights,” the fresh advisory read.

The Indian Embassy also reiterated its earlier January advisory, urging all Indian citizens and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) to exercise caution, avoid areas witnessing protests or demonstrations, remain in contact with the mission, and monitor local media for updates.

It further asked Indian nationals to keep their travel and immigration documents, including passports and identification papers, readily accessible at all times, and to contact the Embassy for assistance if required.