Iran has accused the United States of disseminating 'big lies' concerning its missile program and chaos within the country, which follows remarks made by President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address.
The spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, Esmaeil Baqaei, rejected the allegations regarding Iran's nuclear initiative, its ballistic missiles, and the reported fatalities during the recent protests. He stated on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, that 'Whatever they’re alleging in regards to Iran’s nuclear programme, Iran’s ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January’s unrest, is simply the repetition of ‘big lies.’
In his unusually lengthy 107-minute speech, Trump informed legislators that Iran has '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. He further labeled Iran as 'the world’s number one sponsor of terror' and claimed that over 32,000 protesters had been killed amid the recent upheaval.
Despite these pronouncements, Trump allocated only three minutes to discuss Iran, expressing a preference for diplomacy but emphasizing that the US has yet to hear Iran confirm 'those secret words we will never have a nuclear weapon.' His address left unclear whether there is a realistic option for military intervention against Tehran, even as he has stationed the largest US military force in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Iranian authorities maintain that uranium enrichment is a sovereign right and consistently deny any aspirations to acquire a nuclear weapon, although there have been indications over the years that the nation has tested substances associated with nuclear weapons development. The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, stressed Tehran's commitment to diplomatic negotiations, warning, however, that military threats would elicit a robust response. 'If you choose diplomacy—diplomacy in which the dignity of the Iranian nation and mutual interests are respected—we will join you at that table. But if you opt to repeat past mistakes through deception, lies, flawed analyses, and false information, and launch an attack during negotiations, you will certainly suffer the forceful response of the Iranian people and the defense forces of the nation,' he stated.
The third round of indirect nuclear discussions between the US and Iran is scheduled for tomorrow in Geneva, facilitated by Oman and attended by Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Analysts caution that the intensifying rhetoric and military deployments may hinder the negotiations aimed at averting a renewed nuclear arms race in the region.
In his State of the Union address, Trump also criticized Democrats, describing them as 'crazy' and 'anti-American,' while garnering applause from Republican lawmakers. Several Democrats exited the chamber early, including Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, who remarked on Bluesky that he 'couldn’t sit through an hour of Trump’s lies.' In contrast, Trump highlighted several domestic accomplishments, recognized Olympians and National Guard members with medals, and claimed a 'turnaround for the ages' during his first year back in office, despite low approval ratings and widespread concerns over the economy.
Iran's rejection of US statements highlights the persistent distrust between the two nations as nuclear talks reach a delicate stage. Observers express concern that the dynamic of aggressive language and military posturing could undermine diplomatic efforts in Geneva.
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