U.S. President Donald Trump used his State of the Union address on Tuesday to outline his position on Iran, warning that he would not permit what he called the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism to acquire a nuclear weapon.
Speaking before a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Trump accused Tehran of destabilising the Middle East through its backing of militant groups, its handling of domestic unrest, and continued development of missile and nuclear capabilities.
“The regime and its murderous proxies have spread nothing but terrorism and death and hate,” he said during the address.
His remarks came amid a noticeable buildup of U.S. military assets in the Middle East, fuelling speculation about a possible confrontation with the Islamic Republic. Although his administration has intensified pressure on Tehran, the president has provided few specifics about the scope or timing of any potential military action.
Trump alleged that Iran has renewed aspects of its nuclear programme and is advancing missile technology that could eventually threaten the United States. He also blamed Tehran for past roadside bomb attacks that killed American service members and civilians. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is strictly for civilian energy purposes.
According to the president, diplomatic efforts have stalled because Iran has not explicitly renounced nuclear weapons ambitions. “They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon,’” he told lawmakers.
Iran’s foreign ministry dismissed the claims as baseless, accusing Washington of repeating longstanding allegations about Tehran’s nuclear intentions and internal affairs.
Ahead of the speech, Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed senior congressional leaders and intelligence committee heads on developments related to Iran.
Democratic lawmakers called for greater transparency. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said any decision involving military action should be openly debated, cautioning that secrecy could lead to prolonged conflict and unintended consequences.
Although much of Trump’s nearly two-hour address focused on domestic priorities such as the economy and immigration, his comments on Iran stood out against the backdrop of rising regional tensions.
The president, who has long championed an “America First” approach and pledged to end protracted overseas wars, faces a public wary of new foreign conflicts. Recent opinion surveys indicate strong support for limiting military engagement to direct and imminent threats to U.S. security.
Trump reiterated that he favours diplomacy but signalled readiness to act if required.
“As president, I will make peace wherever I can,” he said. “But I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must.”