In his State of the Union address on February 24 (US time), President Donald Trump warned that Iran is developing missiles that "will soon reach the US", while affirming that Washington will not let Tehran possess nuclear weapons.
Mr. Trump said that Iran has missiles that can threaten Europe and US bases abroad, and is making efforts to build a type with a longer range. The US President did not provide specific information or evidence about this type of missile, but emphasized that this is the reason the US maintains a powerful military force around Iran.
The US leader said he wants to end Iran's nuclear program through diplomacy, but has not received a commitment that Tehran will never possess nuclear weapons. He affirmed that the US military is the strongest force in the world and no country should doubt Washington's determination.
Iran has repeatedly stated that it is not pursuing atomic bombs. The Iranian Foreign Minister on February 24 emphasized that the country will not develop nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
According to the US Congressional Research Service, Iran currently possesses short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles that can fire a maximum range of 3,000km, enough to reach many areas of the Middle East and part of Europe. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates that Iran had about 3,000 ballistic missiles before the conflict with Israel broke out in June 2025, of which nearly two-thirds had a range of over 1,600km. The longest missile is said to reach about 2,000km, while the distance from the US mainland to the westernmost part of Iran is about 10,000km.
The US Defense Intelligence Agency in 2025 assessed that Iran could develop intercontinental ballistic missiles within 10 years if it decides to pursue this capability, but did not confirm that Tehran had made the decision.
According to Reuters, Iran has imposed a policy of not developing missiles with a range exceeding 2,000km, considering this level sufficient to deter Israel. However, General Mohammad Jafar Asadi, Deputy Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command (the operational command of the Iranian Armed Forces), in October 2025 declared that the country could increase its range "to the necessary level".
