President Donald Trump utilized his State of the Union address on Tuesday to assert that Iran is actively pursuing advanced missile technology capable of striking the continental United States. The declaration marks a significant escalation in rhetoric regarding Tehran’s military capabilities.
During his nationally televised speech, Trump stated, ‘Iran has already deployed missiles threatening European territories and our overseas military installations. They are now advancing their program to construct missiles with potential reach to American soil.’ This claim appears to contradict established intelligence assessments regarding Iran’s current technological capabilities.
According to defense analysis from the U.S. Congressional Research Service, Iran’s existing ballistic missile arsenal consists primarily of short- and medium-range systems with maximum ranges of approximately 1,850 miles (3,000 kilometers). The geographical reality places the continental United States at a distance exceeding 6,000 miles from Iran’s western borders, making any immediate threat technologically implausible.
The U.S. Defence Intelligence Agency had previously projected in 2025 that Iran could potentially develop a militarily viable intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035, but only if Tehran made a strategic decision to pursue such capability—a determination that intelligence officials had not confirmed.
Despite the confrontational rhetoric, Trump emphasized his preference for diplomatic solutions, noting that Washington and Tehran have engaged in two rounds of negotiations aimed at establishing a replacement for the nuclear agreement that the Trump administration abandoned during its first term. These talks have encountered significant obstacles, particularly regarding American demands for complete uranium enrichment cessation and limitations on Iran’s ballistic missile program and regional activities—conditions that Iranian officials have consistently rejected.
The diplomatic efforts occur against a backdrop of substantial U.S. military deployment to the Middle East, including two aircraft carrier groups, numerous additional naval vessels, combat aircraft, and other assets. Trump has repeatedly warned that military action remains an option should diplomatic efforts fail, with the next round of negotiations scheduled for Thursday.