Iran has issued its first official response after US President Donald Trump described the Islamic Republic as the “world’s number one sponsor of terror” during his State of the Union (SOTU) address on Tuesday (Feb 24), rejecting the allegations as nothing more than “big lies.”
Iran rejects Trump’s claims on missiles & nuclear ambitions
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei strongly dismissed Trump’s remarks, calling them a repetition of “big lies” regarding Iran’s ballistic missile activities, nuclear ambitions, and reported casualty figures during January’s unrest.
Writing on X, Baqaei said:
“Whatever they’re alleging in regards to Iran’s nuclear programme, ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January’s unrest, is simply the repetition of ‘big lies’.”
Although the ministry did not directly name Trump, the rebuttal was a clear response to the US president’s SOTU accusations.
Just before the speech, Iran’s top diplomat Seyed Abbas Araghchi also emphasised that Iran will “under no circumstances develop a nuclear weapon.” He said Tehran believes a “historic opportunity” exists to strike an unprecedented agreement with Washington — but only if diplomacy is prioritised.
Trump in SOTU: ‘Never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon’
During his first State of the Union address, Trump issued one of his sharpest warnings yet to Tehran. He claimed Iran was seeking to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the United States.
While insisting he prefers a diplomatic solution, he declared:
“I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump also invoked past confrontations, including:
- the 2020 killing of General Qasem Soleimani,
- and Operation Midnight Hammer, a US operation that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.
The president praised the operation, saying, “We wiped it out, and they want to start all over again… pursuing their sinister ambitions.”
Trump warns Iran’s leadership & highlights human rights abuses
Trump’s speech directly called out Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accusing the regime of spreading “terrorism, death and hate” for 47 years.
He alleged that:
- Iran has already developed missiles capable of threatening Europe and US bases overseas
- The regime killed “at least 32,000 protesters” during the recent unrest
He added:
“No nation should ever doubt America’s resolve. We have the most powerful military on earth.”
The remarks have reignited fears of a possible regime change push or further confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
Iran says US claims are fabricated as nuclear talks remain stalled
Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful and that the US is spreading misinformation to escalate tensions.
The exchange comes as nuclear negotiations remain frozen and both sides accuse each other of destabilising the region.
With Trump’s renewed pressure and Iran’s defiant stance, concerns over a potential new US–Iran escalation continue to grow.