President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, during his lengthy State of the Union address. The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and ongoing negotiations with Tehran over its atomic program.
“They were warned not to attempt to rebuild their weapons program, particularly nuclear,” Trump stated. “Yet, they are starting from scratch.”
The president referenced the June 22, 2025, “Operation Hammer of Midnight,” which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, as evidence of the United States’ willingness to act against Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “We annihilated it, and they want to start again,” he asserted.
With the largest U.S. Military deployment in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq War currently in place, Trump assured the nation that “they will never have a nuclear weapon.” He also claimed that Iran is actively developing missiles capable of reaching the United States.
High-Stakes Negotiations
The United States and Iran are currently engaged in delicate, high-stakes negotiations concerning Iran’s nuclear program, missile development, and other issues. While expressing a preference for a diplomatic resolution, Trump made it clear he is prepared to leverage force if talks fail. The development underscores growing regional tensions and the potential for further escalation.
“My preference is to resolve this issue through diplomacy. But one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s leading sponsor of terror – and it is, by far – to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump concluded.
He further stated that Iran has already developed missiles that pose a threat to Europe and U.S. Bases abroad, and is working to build missiles capable of reaching American soil. According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service, Tehran currently possesses short- and medium-range ballistic missiles with a maximum range of approximately 1,864 miles (3,000 kilometers). The continental United States is more than 5,998 miles (9,656 kilometers) from the westernmost point of Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi previously indicated on the social media platform X that an agreement with Washington regarding its nuclear program is “within reach, but only if diplomacy is prioritized.” Washington and Tehran have completed two rounds of talks aimed at reaching a new accord to replace the agreement Trump abandoned during his first term.
Longest Speech in History
Trump spoke about the State of the Union for 107 minutes, being the longest address to a joint session of Congress in the country’s history.
In doing so, Trump broke the record he himself set last year, when he addressed senators and members of the House of Representatives for 99 minutes during the opening speech of his second term, eight minutes less than today.
During his extensive address, the Republican president touted progress in the fight against drug trafficking and immigration, rejected Congress’s power to impose tariffs, and boasted about the mission to capture Nicolás Maduro.
His speech was also an attempt to highlight economic achievements that do not appear to resonate with Americans.
“A Delirious Portrait of America”
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotted the traditional annual address in protest of the president’s immigration policies. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer even described the speech as “delirious” and out of touch with the struggles of everyday citizens.
“Americans have never seen a State of the Union address so divorced from reality. The president’s rhetoric and the reality of the country are two different worlds. (…) Trump painted a delirious portrait of America that almost no working American would recognize,” he said.
“You Have Killed Americans,” Democrats Shout at Trump
Democratic congresswomen from Minnesota and Michigan, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, shouted at Trump as he criticized the immigrant community and accused him of lying and “killing Americans.”
“The first duty of the U.S. Government is to protect American citizens, not illegal immigrants,” the Republican declared, prompting applause from Republicans and protests from Democrats.
The response from the Democratic caucus was booing and rejection of the president’s words.
“You are killing Americans! Alex was not a criminal,” Tlaib shouted at the president, referring to the death of Alex Pretti, an American killed by federal agents last January.
Earlier, veteran Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas was ejected from the chamber after holding a sign reading “Black People Are Not Monkeys,” in reference to a racist video of Barack and Michelle Obama posted on the U.S. President’s social media accounts.
The images, published and then deleted from Trump’s Truth Social account, depicted the Obamas – the first Black president and first lady in U.S. History – as monkeys, sparking outrage across the American political spectrum.
jc/rml (efe, afp, updated at 8:18 CET)
