Iran’s supreme leader Khamenei, US president Trump (File photos)

Iran on Wednesday reacted strongly to US president Donald Trump’s remarks, a day before fresh nuclear talks between the two sides in Geneva.Two senior Iranian officials criticised Trump’s comments, calling them misleading and based on false information. At the same time, they said negotiations could still succeed if handled through “honourable diplomacy”.In his address on Tuesday, Trump accused Iran of rebuilding its missile and nuclear capabilities. He claimed Iran was developing missiles that could threaten Europe and possibly the United States. He also said Iran had been warned not to restart its nuclear weapons programme but was continuing its efforts.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei accused Trump of spreading disinformation. Writing on X, he said the allegations about Iran’s nuclear activities, ballistic missiles and deaths during recent unrest were “big lies”.Separately, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the US must choose between diplomacy and confrontation. He said Iran would join talks if its dignity and mutual interests were respected. But he warned that any attack during negotiations would bring a strong response.“If you choose the table of diplomacy, a diplomacy in which the dignity of the Iranian nation and mutual interests are respected, we will also be at that table,” Qalibaf said, according to the semiofficial Student News NetworkThe United States and Iran are set to meet on Thursday in Geneva for their third round of talks, mediated by Oman.Trump has repeatedly threatened military action if negotiations fail. The United States has also deployed a large number of aircraft and warships to the Middle East. Iran has said US bases in the Middle East would be considered legitimate targets in such a case.