United States President Donald Trump claimed in Washington that Iran is working to develop long-range missiles capable of striking the United States, intensifying rhetoric as negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme continue.
Speaking during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Donald Trump said Iran had already developed missiles that could threaten Europe and US military bases overseas and was advancing towards intercontinental capability. “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 said.
According to a 2025 assessment by the US Defence Intelligence Agency, Iran could potentially develop a militarily viable intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 if it chooses to pursue that capability. The report did not conclude that Tehran has taken a formal decision to do so.
The US Congressional Research Service states that Iran currently possesses short- and medium-range ballistic missiles with ranges of up to approximately 1,850 miles (3,000 kilometres). The continental United States is located more than 6,000 miles from Iran’s western border, placing it beyond the reach of Iran’s existing missile systems.
The remarks come as Washington and Tehran have completed two rounds of talks aimed at replacing the 2015 nuclear agreement, which Donald Trump withdrew from during his first term in office. The United States has called for zero uranium enrichment by Iran and has also sought restrictions on Tehran’s ballistic missile programme and regional security activities. Iranian authorities have rejected those additional conditions.
In parallel with diplomatic engagement, the United States has deployed two aircraft carriers, more than a dozen naval vessels and multiple air assets to the Middle East, signalling a strengthened military posture. Donald Trump has warned that the US could consider military action if negotiations fail to produce a new agreement. Further talks between Washington and Tehran are scheduled for Thursday.
The developments underscore ongoing tensions over nuclear policy, missile technology and regional security dynamics in the Middle East, with implications for global energy markets and geopolitical stability.
