Key Highlights
- Iran accuses President Trump of “big lies” on nuclear program and protests.
- President Trump claims to have obliterated Iran’s nuclear weapons with strikes in June.
- Tensions escalate as both countries prepare for upcoming negotiations over the contested uranium enrichment program.
- Iran dismisses Trump’s claims, warning of retaliation if attacked.
The Trump-Iran Standoff: An Accusatory Exchange
President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union was met with a sharp rebuke from Iran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry accused Mr. Trump of repeating “big lies” about both its nuclear program and the death toll from its crackdown on anti-government protests in January.
Trump’s Claims
During his address, President Trump repeated his claim that the U.S. had “obliterated Iran’s nuclear weapons program” with strikes in June—a claim recently cast doubt by the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog agency, the IAEA. He added: “They were warned to make no future attempts to rebuild their weapons program, and in particular nuclear weapons, yet they continue.” The president also claimed that Iranian security forces killed 32,000 people with their crackdown to quash recent protests against the regime.
Iran’s Response
In a statement shared on social media, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson described Mr. Trump as “a professional liar.” They accused him of trying to “repeat a lie often enough until it becomes the truth,” referencing Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels’ maxim.
Iranian officials warned that if Mr. Trump orders new strikes, U.S. bases in the region would be targeted. Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated: “If you decide to repeat past experiences through deception, lies, flawed analysis, and false information, and launch an attack in the midst of negotiations, you will undoubtedly taste the strong punch of the Iranian people and the country’s defensive forces.”
Nuclear Negotiations
While both sides remain committed to “dignified diplomacy,” they are far apart. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that a military clash is inevitable, with U.S. strikes on Iran leading to retaliation against American bases in the region.
Ms. Vakil from Chatham House thinks it’s imminent: “War looks inevitable because President Trump has been not just assembling a huge arsenal to strike Iran but also clearly signaling he’s seeking the submission of the Islamic Republic.” Araghchi reiterated that any new nuclear deal with Iran might need to include a full abandonment of all domestic enrichment, something Tehran is unlikely to accept.
He said: “We are trying to make it something which consists of elements which can accommodate both sides’ concerns and interests, and we are working on those elements.” Araghchi added that Iran’s nuclear rights as a signatory of the non-proliferation treaty were at stake, emphasizing its right to “harness dividends of peaceful nuclear technology.”
The writing on the wall is clear: while diplomacy remains an option, the path ahead is fraught with tension and potential conflict. The next few days could define not just Iran-U.S. relations but also the broader Middle East.