Articles in this Cluster
17-02-2026
US President Donald Trump stated that he will be 'indirectly' involved in nuclear talks between Iran and the US, set to begin in Geneva. Trump believes Iran is motivated to negotiate due to the consequences of not making a deal, referencing the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites last summer. The talks, mediated by Oman, will focus on Iran's nuclear program and potential lifting of US economic sanctions. The US has built up its military presence in the region, with the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and USS Gerald R Ford warship deployed near Iran. Iran has responded with its own military drill in the Strait of Hormuz.
Entities: Donald Trump, Iran, United States, Geneva, Oman • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
The US is building up its military presence near Iran, with the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and other warships and fighter jets being tracked in the region. The move is seen as a show of force by the US, which is putting pressure on Iran over its military program and recent crackdown on protesters. Iran has responded with its own military drill in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit choke point. The US and Iranian officials are set to meet in Switzerland on Tuesday for a second round of talks, with Iran saying the meeting will focus on its nuclear program and the potential lifting of economic sanctions.
Entities: USS Abraham Lincoln, Iran, US, Switzerland, Oman • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
The article reports that during a meeting at Mar-a-Lago in December, President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would support Israeli strikes on Iran's ballistic missile program if a deal between Washington and Tehran could not be reached. Internal discussions between senior U.S. military and intelligence officials have begun to contemplate supporting a fresh round of Israeli strikes on Iran. The U.S. is considering providing aerial refueling for Israeli aircraft and securing overflight permission from countries along the potential route. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is pursuing negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program, with a second round of talks scheduled in Geneva. The U.S. has also dispatched a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, joining an already substantial American presence.
Entities: Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran, Israel, United States • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
The United States and Hungary have signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, deepening bilateral ties between the two countries. The deal, signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, will allow Hungary to purchase nuclear fuel from American suppliers and cooperate on small modular reactors. The agreement is seen as a significant diplomatic win for Orbán, who is facing parliamentary elections in April, and is also part of the Trump administration's efforts to counter Russian influence in Central Europe's energy sector. Orbán, a long-time ally of President Trump, has maintained close ties with the US despite criticism from other European leaders over his government's stance on issues such as migration and LGBTQ rights.
Entities: United States, Hungary, Marco Rubio, Viktor Orbán, Donald Trump • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
The U.S. military boarded the sanctioned oil tanker Veronica III in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea. The tanker, which is under U.S. sanctions related to Iran, had fled Venezuela with nearly 2 million barrels of crude and fuel oil on January 3, the same day former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured. The U.S. has been enforcing a quarantine on sanctioned tankers since December to pressure Maduro's regime and has been tracking and seizing tankers involved in smuggling Venezuelan oil. The Veronica III is a Panamanian-flagged vessel that has been involved with Russian, Iranian, and Venezuelan oil since 2023. The Pentagon did not confirm whether the tanker was formally seized and placed under U.S. control.
Entities: United States, Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, Indian Ocean, Caribbean Sea • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
The article provides live updates on two major diplomatic events: US-Iran nuclear talks and Russia-Ukraine trilateral talks, both scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that President Donald Trump prefers diplomacy in dealing with Iran. The US-Iran talks, mediated by Oman's Foreign Minister, will focus on Iran's nuclear program. Meanwhile, Russia launched attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, killing at least two people and wounding 16, just hours before trilateral talks aimed at resolving the conflict. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged countries to take stronger action against Russia.
Entities: Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio, Geneva • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
The article discusses President Donald Trump's recent statements on his hopes for constructive talks with Iran and Ukraine while en route to Washington on Air Force One. The piece also touches on various other news stories, including the Department of Justice sending Congress a list of prominent individuals named in Jeffrey Epstein's files, Hillary Clinton's criticism of Trump's handling of Ukraine, and other political developments.
Entities: Donald Trump, Iran, Ukraine, Air Force One, Washington • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
Iran launched live-fire naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, hours before nuclear talks resumed in Geneva between the U.S. and Iran. The drills, called 'Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz,' were led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and aimed to assess readiness and respond to potential security threats. The exercises came as the U.S. and Iran resumed diplomatic efforts in Geneva, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating that Iran is seeking a 'fair and equitable deal.' Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has ordered a buildup of U.S. military forces in the Middle East, threatening to strike Iran if it doesn't agree to a nuclear deal. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is currently operating in the region, conducting around-the-clock flight operations.
Entities: Iran, Strait of Hormuz, Geneva, United States, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse, thanking the U.S. for its bipartisan support and discussing ways to counter Russian aggression. Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of sanctions against Russia and the potential use of immobilized Russian assets to purchase defense systems for Ukraine.
Entities: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Richard Blumenthal, Sheldon Whitehouse, United States, Russia • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
US forces have boarded and 'shut down' a sanctioned oil tanker, Veronica III, in the Indian Ocean. The tanker was linked to Venezuela and had been tracked from the Caribbean. The operation was part of efforts to target illicit oil tankers linked to Venezuela, which has faced US sanctions on its oil for several years. The Department of War stated that the vessel tried to defy President Trump's quarantine and was shut down. The tanker was carrying nearly 2 million barrels of crude and fuel oil and had been involved with Russian, Iranian, and Venezuelan oil since 2023.
Entities: US forces, Venezuela, Veronica III, Indian Ocean, Caribbean • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
The US and Iran are set to hold their second round of nuclear talks in Geneva, amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East. The US has ramped up its military presence in the region, while Iran has conducted large-scale maritime exercises. The talks aim to limit Iran's nuclear program and ease punishing sanctions imposed by the US. Iranian officials have signaled openness to compromise, but insist that any deal must include the easing of sanctions. The US hopes to achieve a peaceful and negotiated outcome, despite difficulties.
Entities: United States, Iran, Geneva, Donald Trump, Abbas Araghchi • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
Ukraine and Russia are holding a new round of US-brokered peace talks in Switzerland, but expectations are low due to unresolved major hurdles, including the fate of Ukrainian-held territory in the east and postwar Western security guarantees. The talks mark the third trilateral meeting between Ukrainian, Russian, and American negotiators. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned against allowing Russia to take territory, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted that the war will not end unless Ukraine cedes control of the eastern Donetsk region. The US is pressuring Ukraine to make concessions to end the war by early summer.
Entities: Ukraine, Russia, United States, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates • Tone: positive • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
The United States and Iran are set to resume nuclear talks in Geneva, Switzerland, amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The negotiations, which will be attended by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aim to reach a deal that would end international sanctions on Iran in exchange for limitations on its nuclear program. However, the talks are complicated by Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for proxy militias in the region. The US has increased its military presence in the region, including two aircraft carriers, and President Trump has warned Iran of the consequences of not reaching a deal. Iranian leaders have expressed willingness to discuss their nuclear program but have shown little interest in compromising on other issues. The negotiations come as Iran's economy struggles under international sanctions, and the country's authoritarian government faces internal pressure.
Entities: United States, Iran, Geneva, Switzerland, Steve Witkoff • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-02-2026
Russia and Ukraine are set to hold a fresh round of US-mediated peace talks in Geneva on February 17 and 18, 2026. The talks are expected to focus on land, the main sticking point in the conflict. Russia is demanding that Ukraine cede the remaining 20% of the eastern region of Donetsk that Moscow has failed to capture. Ukraine refuses to do so, and hopes are low for any significant breakthrough. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, millions displaced, and widespread devastation. The talks come just days before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Entities: Russia, Ukraine, Geneva, United States, Donald Trump • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
