United States President Donald Trump has alleged that Iran is working to develop long-range missiles that could eventually strike the United States, raising fresh concerns amid ongoing negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Speaking during his State of the Union address, Trump said Iran already possesses missile capabilities that threaten parts of Europe and US military installations abroad.
“They’ve already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America,” he stated.
The remarks come as Washington and Tehran engage in high-level talks aimed at reaching a new agreement on Iran’s nuclear activities, as well as its ballistic missile programme and regional influence. Trump said he preferred a diplomatic resolution but warned that the United States was prepared to take military action if negotiations fail.
“My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy but one thing is certain: I will never allow… to have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
According to a 2025 assessment by the US Defense Intelligence Agency, Iran could potentially develop a militarily viable intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 if it chooses to pursue such capability. However, the report did not indicate that Tehran had made that decision.
Currently, Iran’s missile arsenal consists mainly of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles with ranges of up to about 3,000 kilometres (1,850 miles), according to the US Congressional Research Service. The continental United States lies more than 6,000 miles from Iran.
Trump also accused Iran of attempting to revive its nuclear programme following US strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities last year, claiming the country was “again pursuing their sinister nuclear ambitions.”
Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons and has rejected US demands for zero uranium enrichment.
Meanwhile, the US has deployed significant military assets to the Middle East, including aircraft carriers, warplanes and additional naval forces, as talks between both countries are scheduled to continue later this week.
