Washington: Minority Leader of the US House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries stated that US President Donald Trump lies about Iran. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday local time, after the briefing session for senior Congress members with Trump's Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jeffries referred to Trump's previous claim that last year's strikes had 'completely and totally obliterated' Iran's nuclear capabilities. 'Clearly he was lying to the American people, or he's lying right now,' he added.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Jeffries expressed his intention to question the administration on Trump's statements regarding Iran's nuclear program and the current urgency of the situation. Rubio held a meeting on Tuesday evening local time, before Trump's annual speech to Congress, with the leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate, along with the chairs and senior members of the intelligence committees of both chambers, also known as the 'Gang of Eight'. The 'Gang of Eight' refers to the eight senior US Congress officials who, by law, are briefed on the latest and most sensitive security and intelligence information.

Following the 12-day war involving the US and Israel against Iranian nuclear facilities, indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington have resumed, despite US' contradictory statements and threats. The first round of indirect Tehran-Washington talks after the 12-day war was held on Friday, February 6, 2026, in Muscat. The Iranian and American negotiating teams exchanged a set of views through Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, the Omani Foreign Minister.

The second round of nuclear talks took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 17, 2026, concluding after approximately three hours and thirty minutes of intensive diplomatic consultations. These talks, like previous rounds, were held indirectly with the mediation of the Sultanate of Oman. A new round of talks is scheduled to be held on Thursday in Geneva.