President Trump used his State of the Union address Tuesday night to deliver a stark warning about Iran’s military capabilities, claiming the regime has already developed missiles capable of striking U.S. bases in Europe and the Middle East — and is working toward weapons that could eventually reach the American homeland.
“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,” Trump told lawmakers, describing Iran’s leadership as “some terrible people.”
Tehran swiftly rejected the claims. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei dismissed the remarks Wednesday as part of a “disinformation and misinformation campaign,” calling U.S. allegations about Iran’s missile program, nuclear ambitions, and protest-related casualties “big lies.”
The president also asserted that, despite U.S. airstrikes in June targeting three key Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran is attempting to restart its atomic weapons program. “They want to start it all over … and are, at this moment, again pursuing their sinister ambitions,” Trump said.
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran are ongoing, with the next round scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. Trump noted that while Iran has expressed interest in a deal, U.S. officials have yet to hear what he described as the essential commitment: “We will never have a nuclear weapon.”
Adding urgency to the administration’s stance, special envoy Steve Witkoff said in a Feb. 21 interview that Iran was “probably a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material,” a statement that intensified scrutiny of Tehran’s nuclear timeline.
Trump also cited reports claiming that Iranian authorities killed 32,000 citizens during a recent crackdown on anti-government protests. The figure has circulated widely on social media but has not been confirmed by major Western governments or human rights organizations. The Human Rights Activists News Agency estimated Monday that approximately 6,500 protesters had been killed, with nearly 11,744 additional cases under review.
“Just over the last couple of months … they’ve killed at least, it looks like 32,000 protesters,” Trump said, adding that U.S. threats had prevented further executions.
Behind the scenes, tensions appear elevated. Hours before the address, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed congressional leaders at the White House on potential military action. While details of the briefing were not disclosed, lawmakers from both parties signaled concern.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the administration must “make its case to the American people,” while Rep. Jim Himes warned that wars in the Middle East historically carry high costs and uncertain outcomes.
The president has positioned two U.S. aircraft carrier groups within operational range and previously threatened military action if Iran executed anti-regime protesters. Although Trump has publicly endorsed regime change, it remains unclear whether any potential strikes would aim to destabilize Iran’s leadership or focus solely on its nuclear and missile infrastructure.
As diplomatic talks resume in Geneva, the stakes appear unusually high. Military assets are in place, rhetoric has sharpened, and questions linger over whether negotiations can defuse a confrontation that risks expanding into a broader regional conflict.
