US President Donald Trump asserted on Tuesday that Iran is working on developing missiles capable of targeting the United States, a technology possessed by only a few countries globally. During his State of the Union address, Trump stated, “They have already created missiles that pose a threat to Europe and our overseas bases, and they are striving to produce missiles that can potentially reach the United States of America.”
According to the US Defense Intelligence Agency’s projection for 2025, Iran could potentially create an intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 if they choose to pursue this capability. Tehran currently has short- and medium-range ballistic missiles with a maximum range of about 1,850 miles (3,000 kilometers), as reported by the US Congressional Research Service. Notably, the distance between Iran’s western tip and the continental United States exceeds 6,000 miles.
As part of efforts to address Iran’s nuclear activities following the termination of the previous agreement by Trump, the US and Iran have engaged in two rounds of discussions. The United States has consistently advocated for Iran to cease uranium enrichment entirely while also addressing its ballistic missile program and support for regional armed groups, demands that Iran has rejected.
In response to the situation, Trump has dispatched a substantial US military presence to the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers, numerous additional ships, a significant fleet of warplanes, and other resources to the region. Trump has made repeated threats of military action against Iran in case negotiations fail to yield a new agreement. Talks with Tehran are scheduled to resume on Thursday.