IRAN is building a nuclear bomb that could strike the US, Donald Trump has warned as he urges the regime to say the “secret words” to prevent a war.
The US president slammed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for refusing to curb his “sinister” nuclear ambitions – before threatening to use the huge military build-up currently stationed on Tehran’s doorstep.
Trump laid the case for launching military action in Iran during his one-hour and 50-minute State of the Union address on Tuesday.
It comes as talks between Tehran and Washington to iron out a nuke deal have failed to reach a breakthrough.
A staggering military deployment, including one third of the US Navy, has now amassed near the mullahs’ regime amid the fruitless negotiations.
The huge cluster of firepower marks the biggest military build-up in the Middle East since the US invaded Iraq in 2003.
The US leader blasted Iran‘s “sinister” nuclear ambitions which he claimed had restarted since they were “obliterated” during the Israel-led 12-day war last summer.
He said the Iranian regime was developing intercontinental ballistic missiles that could soon reach the US.
Trump warned: “They’ve 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 of America.”
President Trump appeared to be referring to a report which warns that Tehran may be able to get their hands on a ballistic missile within US-striking distance by 2035.
The May 2025 assessment released by the Defense Intelligence Agency says: “Iran has space launch vehicles it could use to develop a militarily-viable ICBM by 2035 should Tehran decide to pursue the capability.”
Trump said: “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy.
“But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon.”
He also slammed the Ayatollah for Tehran’s brutal crackdown on protesters earlier this year.
Trump accused the despot’s security forces for slaying “at least 32,000 protesters in their own country” amid the blood-soaked demonstrations.
“We are in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon,’” he said.
The speech comes just two days before crunch talks in Geneva on Thursday between US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and senior Iranian officials.
The discussions could be the last chance to save the Islamic republic from Trump’s wrath.
Hours before Trump’s speech, Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran would resume talks with the US in Geneva on Thursday to reach “a fair and equitable deal”.
The Ayatollah’s crony said: “A deal is within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority.
He also stressed that Iran’s position is that it will never develop a nuclear bomb “under no circumstances”.
Iran is also reportedly on the brink of a game-changing missile deal with China that could put US warships in the Persian Gulf in the crosshairs.
The rogue state is now reportedly close to buying Chinese CM-302 supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles designed to skim low over the sea, dodge defences and smash into targets nearly 180 miles away.
If deployed, the missiles would dramatically boost Iran’s ability to strike at US naval forces in the region.
The missiles would be among the most advanced military hardware to be transferred to Iran by China and defy a United Nations arms embargo imposed in 2006.
They can travel at a top speed of 3.5 Mach and are capable of carrying a 250kg warhead.
It comes after Trump set a 10-day deadline last Thursday for Tehran to agree to a litany of nuclear concessions to avoid looming strikes.
The imposing USS Gerald R. Ford is en route to the USS Abraham Lincoln and its fleet of warships and jets this week off the coast of Oman.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s top crony responded to the build-up by saying Iran is “ready” for the doomsday scenario of US strikes.
He told Al Jazeera: “We are not looking for war, and we won’t start the war. But if they force it on us, we will respond.”
Counterterrorism bosses have now warned that Iran’s bloodthirsty proxies – al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis – are primed to unleash retaliatory terror against the West.
Heightened “chatter” – spy jargon for terrorist communications – intercepted by security analysts indicates attack planning and coordination is underway.
Sleeper cells in Europe are rumoured to be plotting bombing campaigns against US bases and embassies.
Yemen’s Houthis may also resume assaults on Western shipping in the Red Sea.
They may also target the pivotal Bab el-Mandeb strait connecting the Red and Arabian seas, potentially triggering a global energy crisis to force Western diplomatic retreat.
“A lot” of activity has been tracked by US intelligence, one senior official told the New York Times.
