In Washington, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran is trying to develop powerful weapons that can strike the United States. He claimed that Iran is working on advanced missiles that could reach American territory.
He also accused Tehran of trying to rebuild its nuclear program. He said the United States had targeted that program in previous strikes. He warned that Iran’s actions could increase tensions in the region.
Trump added that the US is closely monitoring Iran’s activities. He said America will take action if needed.
The United States and Iran are holding serious talks about Iran’s nuclear program and other issues, including missiles. President Donald Trump said he prefers diplomacy. However, he also said he is ready to use force if the talks fail.
During his State of the Union address, Trump said Iran has already developed missiles that can reach Europe and US bases overseas. He said Iran is now working to build missiles that could soon reach the United States.
In 2025, the US Defense Intelligence Agency said Iran could develop a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035. The agency said this could happen if Tehran decides to move forward with that plan. However, it did not confirm that Iran has made such a decision.
Right now, Iran has short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles. These missiles can travel up to about 1,850 miles, or 3,000 kilometers. This information comes from the US Congressional Research Service.
The mainland United States is more than 6,000 miles away from Iran’s western border.
Washington and Tehran have already held two rounds of talks. They want to reach a new agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. This new deal would replace the agreement that Trump withdrew from during his first term in office.
‘Preference’ Means Diplomacy
The United States has consistently demanded that Iran stop all uranium enrichment. US officials have also tried to address Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for armed groups in the region. Iran has rejected these demands.
Iran has repeatedly denied that it is trying to build nuclear weapons.
Last year, President Donald Trump ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. He later claimed that the strikes destroyed Tehran’s nuclear program.
On Tuesday, Trump said Iran wants to “start all over again.” He said Iran is once again pursuing dangerous nuclear goals.
Trump has sent a large US military force to the Middle East. He deployed two aircraft carriers. He also sent more than a dozen other ships, many warplanes, and other military assets to the region.
He has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran if the talks fail. US and Iranian officials will continue their negotiations on Thursday.
Trump said he prefers to solve the issue through diplomacy. However, he made his position clear. He said he will never allow what he called the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism to obtain a nuclear weapon.
The US president mainly focused on domestic issues in his speech. He did not mention China, which is Washington’s main strategic and economic rival. He only briefly referred to Russia.
Trump said he is working to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. He again claimed that he had ended eight other wars since returning to office in January 2025.
He also praised NATO for agreeing to spend five percent of its gross domestic product on defense. He said his administration strongly pushed for that decision.