WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump, in his State of the Union address Tuesday, accused Iran of pursuing advanced missile technology capable of reaching the American mainland, a claim immediately disputed by Tehran. The escalating rhetoric comes as indirect negotiations between the two nations are set to resume Thursday in Geneva, mediated by Oman, with the aim of de-escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump asserted that Iran is working to rebuild its nuclear program, despite what he claimed were successful U.S. Strikes last year that “obliterated” Iranian nuclear facilities. “We wiped it out and they seek to start all over again. And they’re at this moment again pursuing their sinister ambitions,” Trump stated during his address to a joint session of Congress. He added that his preference is to resolve the issue through diplomacy, but warned he would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, leading Tehran’s negotiating delegation, departed for Geneva on Wednesday, according to state media. However, Iranian officials have vehemently denied Trump’s allegations regarding both the pursuit of nuclear weapons and the development of long-range missiles. “Whatever accusations they make regarding Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during the January unrest are merely a repetition of ‘considerable lies’,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, speaking on Wednesday without directly naming Trump.
The claim of Iran developing missiles capable of reaching the U.S. Has been met with skepticism. Geographical realities suggest such a capability is currently beyond Iran’s reach, with over 10,000 kilometers separating Iran from the west coast of the United States. According to a report from the U.S. Congressional Research Service, Iran’s current missile arsenal is limited to short- and intermediate-range systems with a maximum range of 3,000 kilometers.
Despite the denial from Tehran, Trump reiterated his concerns, stating, “They have been developing missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases abroad, and they are working to build missiles that will soon be able to reach the United States.”
The U.S. Has been increasing its military presence in the Middle East in recent weeks, deploying both the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, to the region. The Gerald R. Ford arrived at the U.S. Naval base in Souda Bay, Greece, earlier this week.
Simultaneously, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commenced military exercises along its southern coast in the Persian Gulf, reportedly involving drones, naval vessels, amphibious vehicles, and various missile systems. IRGC commander Mohammad Karami stated the exercises were conducted “based on existing threats,” without elaborating further.
Araghchi, in a recent social media post, reaffirmed Iran’s position, stating, “Our fundamental belief is very clear: Iran, under any circumstances, will never develop a nuclear weapon.” The upcoming negotiations in Geneva represent a critical juncture in efforts to prevent further escalation between Washington and Tehran.