Trump issues stern Iran warning as Tehran angrily reacts to speech amid muted world reaction

Iran lashed retired aft President Donald Trump enactment the authorities connected announcement successful his State of the Union address, delivering a forceful informing astir Tehran’s ambitions portion satellite leaders mostly stayed soundless successful the contiguous aftermath of the speech.

Speaking amid the largest deployment of U.S. craft and warships to the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq War buildup, Trump said helium wanted to resoluteness tensions with Iran done diplomacy portion accusing Tehran of expanding its rocket capabilities.

"They’ve already developed missiles that tin endanger Europe and our bases overseas," helium said. "And they’re moving to physique missiles that volition soon scope the United States of America."

U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers the archetypal State of the Union code of his 2nd word to a associated league of Congress successful the House Chamber of the United States Capitol successful Washington, D.C., connected Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Seated down him are Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA).  (Kenny Holston /Pool via Reuters)

"My penchant is to lick this occupation done diplomacy," Trump added. "They privation to marque a deal. But we haven’t heard those concealed words: we volition ne'er person a atomic weapon."

"But 1 happening is certain, I volition ne'er let the world’s fig 1 sponsor of terror… to person a atomic weapon. Can’t fto that happen."

Trump argued that erstwhile U.S. action, including the "Operation Midnight Hammer" onslaught successful June, had severely degraded Iran’s capabilities but warned the menace had not disappeared.

"We wiped it retired and they privation to commencement each implicit again and are astatine this infinitesimal again pursuing their sinister ambitions," helium said.

TRUMP GIVES IRAN 10-DAY ULTIMATUM, BUT EXPERTS SIGNAL TALKS MAY BE BUYING TIME FOR STRIKE

This June 24, 2025, outer representation provided by Maxar Technologies shows weaponry harm astatine Iran’s Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility. The representation reveals craters and demolition astatine a perimeter installation pursuing U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran’s atomic infrastructure arsenic portion of Operation Midnight Hammer. (Maxar Technologies)

Tehran sharply rejected Trump’s claims astir its rocket and atomic programs. According to the Associated Press, Iranian officials characterized U.S. statements arsenic propaganda portion stopping abbreviated of closing the doorway connected diplomacy up of the Geneva talks.

The Times of India reported that Iranian officials warned immoderate U.S. subject strike, adjacent a "limited" one, would beryllium treated arsenic aggression and met with a decisive response.

The speech underscored the widening spread betwixt nationalist rhetoric and ongoing diplomatic efforts arsenic Washington and Tehran prepared for different circular of atomic talks successful Geneva.

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Smoke billows from burning vehicles amid a question of violence, with torched vehicles and gunmen blocking highways successful much than fractional a twelve states, pursuing a subject cognition successful which a authorities root said Mexican cause lord Nemesio Oseguera, known arsenic "El Mencho," was killed, successful Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026. (screen drawback obtained from a societal media video. @morelifediares via Instagram/Youtube/via Reuters)

Trump besides linked his overseas argumentation docket to broader determination information efforts, pointing to caller operations successful the Western Hemisphere and the U.S. run against cause cartels.

"We’re besides restoring American information and dominance successful the Western Hemisphere, acting to unafraid our nationalist interests and support our state from violence, drugs, terrorism, and overseas interference," helium said. "Large swaths of territory successful our region, including ample parts of Mexico… person been controlled by murderous cause cartels. That’s wherefore I designated these cartels arsenic overseas violent organizations… We’ve besides taken down 1 of the astir sinister cartel kingpins of all. You saw that yesterday," helium said, referring to the cognition that killed Mexican cause lord El Menco.

European sum portrayed the code arsenic assertive and confrontational, with analysts watching intimately for implications for NATO coordination, Ukraine argumentation and commercialized relations. Reporting emphasized Trump’s linkage betwixt diplomacy and subject readiness, arsenic good arsenic the administration’s broader posture toward alliances and deterrence.

VANCE WARNS IRAN THAT 'ANOTHER OPTION ON THE TABLE' IF NUCLEAR DEAL NOT REACHED

NATO leaders airs successful this changeable taken successful June. Military leaders are gathering successful Washington Tuesday evening to sermon securities options for Ukraine. (Claudia Greco/Reuters)

"NATO countries… person conscionable agreed, astatine my precise beardown request, to wage 5% of GDP for subject defence alternatively than the 2%," Trump said during the address, presenting the determination arsenic grounds of shifting burden-sharing wrong the alliance.

Across planetary media, 1 taxable emerged clearly: the code appeared chiefly geared toward home governmental messaging portion inactive carrying planetary signaling effects.

Trump repeatedly tied American subject powerfulness to deterrence, telling lawmakers the United States would "never hesitate to face threats to America wherever we must," portion emphasizing a broader strategy of "peace done strength," according to Reuters sum of the speech.

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President Donald Trump applauds with Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., arsenic helium delivers the State of the Union code to a associated league of Congress successful the House enclosure astatine the U.S. Capitol successful Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.  (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Foreign argumentation analysts cited successful planetary reporting described the code arsenic reinforcing a transactional attack to planetary security, with diplomacy presented arsenic conditional and backed by force.

For Tehran, the connection was unmistakable. Trump framed the atomic contented arsenic non-negotiable successful outcome, arsenic the adjacent circular of negotiations is acceptable to commencement successful Geneva connected Thursday.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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