In a lengthy and historic State of the Union address, former US President Donald Trump made an unsubstantiated claim that Iran is actively developing missiles with the capability to reach the United States. The speech, which lasted one hour and forty-seven minutes, set a new record for duration and included a rambling segment focused on escalating tensions with Tehran.
Unverified Assertions Amid Military Buildup
During his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, Trump stated, "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 provided no concrete evidence to support this allegation, which comes as US naval and air forces continue to gather near Iran in a show of force.
Strategic Pressure and Diplomatic Warnings
The president's remarks appear designed to pressure the Iranian regime into agreeing to a new nuclear deal with Washington. Trump accused Tehran of ignoring previous warnings against resuming nuclear enrichment and weapons development, following a US bombing campaign on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan in June of last year.
"My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy but one thing is certain I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror—which they are by far—to have a nuclear weapon," Trump told lawmakers. He reiterated Washington's commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and accused the regime of supporting regional proxy groups to sow terror.
Violence Allegations and Regime Criticism
In a particularly charged moment, Trump claimed Iran had killed tens of thousands of people during recent protests, specifically alleging, "They’ve killed at least 32,000 protesters in their own country—they shot a lot of them and hung them." He described the Iranian leadership as "some terrible people," though these figures were not independently verified during the speech.
Ambiguity on Military Action
Despite the strong rhetoric, Trump offered no clarity on whether immediate military action against Iran is imminent or what the White House's strategic objectives might be. This ambiguity follows threats made in January, when he suggested attacking Iran in response to a crackdown on anti-regime protests, conditional on Tehran accepting a new nuclear agreement.
Regional Precautions and Embassy Movements
The speech coincided with heightened security measures in the Middle East. On Monday, the US ordered nonessential diplomats and their families to leave the embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, a move often interpreted as a precursor to potential US or Israeli military operations in the region. Lebanon has historically been a site for Iran-related retaliatory attacks against US interests, due to Tehran's support for the Hezbollah militant group.
Additionally, the US military has withdrawn from key bases in northeastern Syria and Qatar, signaling a repositioning of forces that aligns with the escalating tensions. These developments underscore the volatile situation as Trump continues his war of words with Iran, leaving many observers questioning the likelihood of diplomatic resolution versus military confrontation.
